Derrick Rose tears meniscus anew; surgery scheduled

MANILA, Philippines – Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose suffered a medical meniscus tear in his right knee and will require surgery, the team announced on Wednesday, February 25.

The Bulls announced that Rose reported to the team and indicated pain on his right knee early on Wednesday. After an MRI, the Bulls’ medical staff discovered that Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee – the same injury he suffered last NBA season.

Surgery has been scheduled for the former NBA MVP, and a timetable for his return will be announced shortly after.

This is the third major knee injury Rose, 26, has suffered in his NBA career.

A year after winning his 2011 MVP award, Derrick Rose tore his left ACL in a playoff game against the Philadelphia 76ers in 2012, which put him out of action for the rest of the Bulls’ postseason run and for the entire 2012-2013 NBA Season.

Rose returned in October 2013, but not long after, he tore his right meniscus in a regular season game against the Trail Blazers in Portland that sidelined him for Chicago’s entire 2013-2014 campaign.

Rose was averaging 18.4 PPG, 5.0 APG, and 3.1 RPG this season. He was playing the best stretch of his campaign just before going down with another injury, including going off for 30 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds in a 113-98 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers a day prior to the All-Star break.

There was an immediate reaction from Rose’s fellow NBA players on social media after news of his injury became public knowledge. Four-time NBA MVP LeBron James, who Rose has battled with in the postseason, said: “Keep your head up homie!”

Man feel bad for D.Rose! Keep your head up homie and stay strong G!

— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 25, 2015

Prayers up for the homie Drose…Wish u a speedy recover

— John Wall (@JohnWall) February 25, 2015

There is some good news. Bulls beat writer KC Johnson reports that there’s a belief within the Chicago organization that Rose’s torn meniscus in the present isn’t as “extensive” as the one he suffered in 2013.

Source: Initial belief is that this tear is not as extensive as tear in November 2013. So no official timeline until after surgery.

— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) February 25, 2015

Legendary trainer Tim Grover, who trained Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade, says that Rose could still return at a high level.

Before you panic about DRose it’s not uncommon for athletes to return at a high level from multiple meniscus tears–if you do the work right

— Tim S. Grover (@ATTACKATHLETICS) February 25, 2015

– Rappler.com