Fresh off a vacation to Bora Bora with his mother, Brenda, Derrick Rose said Tuesday that if the NBA Lockout drags deep into the season, he will consider playing overseas.
“Yes, I am taking into consideration that I might move overseas,” the Chicago Bulls guard said. “I don’t know where. There are a lot of great places overseas. I haven’t really had time to get the details of every place.”
Two sources close to Rose confirmed he has at least one concrete offer from an undisclosed foreign team and that preliminary discussions with several other teams have been held. One of those sources stressed that those opportunities only would be pursued if, first, regular-season games get canceled and, second, talks break down for an extended period.
As of now, the first two weeks of training camp have been the only casualty of the NBA lockout, which began on July 1.
“It’s kind of weird knowing that I don’t have a job right now,” Rose said. “I haven’t felt this way from high school. It’s all positive, though. I’m hoping the season starts no matter when. Hopefully, I don’t have to go overseas.
“I do miss talking to the people at the Bulls organization, my coaching staff. I miss that. But it’s not stressful or anything. I’m not panicking. I’m taking my time.”
Rose spoke on the renovated playground at Murray Park, the South Side park where he first honed his skills in pick-up games. A bevy of Rose’s sponsors, spearheaded by Powerade, began renovations on the court in May. And the unveiling Tuesday included Rose talking to 100 select children and answering questions from them before posing for group photos.
“Just coming back here, I know it means a lot not only to me but the community,” Rose said. “If I was younger, I think it’d be cool for a guy who made it before me came back to show he appreciates us and didn’t forget about us. Every day, every time I play, they’re the reason I play, this neighborhood right here. This court is what brings everyone together. People have picnics, barbecues up here. It means a lot to this neighborhood.”
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