MADRID –- Four shots. Four misses. But a second gold medal. It was not a personal performance that will rank highly among Derrick Rose's finest but it was, said the Chicago Bulls guard, still a night he will never forget as the United States secured their second straight FIBA Basketball World Cup with a 129-92 rout of Serbia in Madrid.
“I got the gold without even scoring,” Rose smiled. “It feels good. We came here with a goal and that was to win a championship. We took it one shootaround at a time, one practice at a time, and one day at a time. That’s the recipe for winning a championship.”
It came without the former NBA Most Valuable Player needing to overextend himself -- with Rose used sparingly in playing just 16 minutes in the final. That he survived intact through 50 days of national team duty without any reason to believe that his knees will be a significant issue during the coming season will be a huge relief to the Bulls as training camp approaches.
“Physically he’s great,” said Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, who shared in the victory as assistant to USA head coach Mike Krzyzweski. “Mentally he’s great. We had five games in six days. He handled that. There was a lot that was real good."
Rose, who averaged 4.8 points and 3.1 assists in Spain, has shown glimpses of what he once was but without -- as yet -- the consistency that marked him out among the world’s best.
The second part of his rehabilitation, he hopes, will arrive when he returns to Chicago next week following a brief post-tournament break.
“I’m going to transfer this onto next season with the Bulls,” he said. “It’s really helped me with my recovery. Being off the floor, taking care of my body, eating right. I was feeling good every time I stepped on the floor, stretching every time, I think it’s going to help me with the Bulls season.
“This has gotten my body accustomed. I haven’t been playing in a long time. I still have to get my rhythm back. But as far as I’m concerned, I think I performed well. Making this team was enough for me. The championship was the cherry on top, just coming here, performing in front of this great crowd. Just coming here. Now, sad to say, I have to put this behind me and concentrate on playing for the Bulls.”
He was not a complete non-factor as the USA overturned a surprise early deficit to blow apart Serbia with a 15-0 run before the Bulls guard had even entered the game.
Ending with six assists, and leading what passed for a second unit on a still-potent American roster, there were pluses to take away from using his explosiveness off the dribble with less frequency and using his mind as a primary weapon.
“I can control the game without scoring,” he said. “I think I’m that good. Just going out there, I had some turnovers but that came from trying to get guys the ball.
“But I think I’m going good. I’ll go back and get in the lab again and get used to the NBA ball and really go after it.”