In the wake of yet another injury requiring surgery, Kevin Garnett and LeBron James were two of many players who extended their support to Bulls point guard Derrick Rose on Friday.
"He's young, such a promising future and a lot of hopes for him so it's just sad to see him have to go through injuries," Garnett told the Chicago Tribune. "I'm just hoping he makes the best decision for himself, his family. … I want him to think about that before basketball."
James expressed his support for Rose through a video for Bleacher Report following an encouraging tweet.
"Last night after our game, after a huge win, we got some news that Derrick Rose was having surgery again on a torn meniscus," James said in his video. "It was terrible news to get, man. I could never know what he's going through mentally or try to put my feet in his shoes and tell him, ‘Listen, I know exactly what you're going through' because I don't. I've never been in this situation before."
If anyone can understand prioritizing personal needs over professional needs, it's Garnett.
"Basketball is always going to be here for him," Garnett said. "But to walk around and be who you are and be free, run around with your kids and be yourself is more important. I always say the game of life is bigger than the game of basketball. So D-Rose, take care of yourself, and do what's best for you.
"The hell with what (critics) talk about. … God bless."
The former MVP went in for an MRI after experiencing pain in his right knee on Monday and underwent a short but successful surgery on Friday morning to remove all or part of the medial meniscus in his right knee, which he tore for the second time in 15 months. He is expected to go through four to six weeks of rehabilitation beginning on Saturday, but anticipates a return to the court before the season ends. Prior to his injury, Rose was averaging 18.4 points and five assists per game.
Rose missed most of the previous two seasons after undergoing surgeries to both of his knees. His surgery on Friday was the third knee surgery of his career.