On April 28th 2012, after dealing with nagging injuries all season Derrick Rose walked onto the court for game one of the NBA playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers. With a little more than one minute remaining and the Bulls leading by a score of 99-87 Derrick Rose attempted a floater in the lane and landed awkwardly, tearing his ACL.

Without their star player, the number one seeded Bulls would be upset by the 76ers and eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

The loss of Derrick Rose not only shocked the city of Chicago, but NBA fans everywhere.

“He’s one of the best point guards in the NBA, the league hasn’t been the same without him” says basketball fan and FHS senior Matt Gentili.

Gentili is right, fans miss seeing D-Rose’s amazing speed, quickness, handle, and athleticism on a nightly basis and so do Rose’s teammates.

Although the Bulls have performed admirably without their leader, currently sitting fifth in the east with a record of 24-16, they just aren’t the same team without Rose.  Players like Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, and Carlos Boozer have been stepping up their game while waiting for their point guard to return, but how long can they keep it up without their best player?

They may not have to wait too much longer.

After successful surgery on his left knee, and months of vigorous rehab (Documented beautifully by Rose’s sponsor Adidas in a series titled “The Return“) Rose is almost ready to come back to the game he loves.

“From a basketball standpoint I am excited, but as a Celtics fan I couldn’t be less happy” said Gentili about Derrick Rose’s return. When asked why Gentili answered “He’s one of the few players in the NBA who can neutralize Rondo”

“He’s a dangerous player to other teams, the Bulls don’t have too much going for them without him” said FHS junior Mario Colace, who would go on to say (jokingly) “Anything that gets in the way of my Bobcats and their NBA championship I just don’t want to see.”

Rose and the Chicago Bulls training staff have yet to set an exact date for a return, but it’s getting close. Rose has even been traveling with the team recently.

With one of the most exciting players in the league on his way back, there is no doubt the rest of the league will take notice when Derrick Rose returns to basketball.