Derrick Rose revealed his plan is to return shortly after the All-Star break. It may or may not be too late for the reeling Knicks, who have dearly missed the injured point guard.
The first game after the All-Star break is Feb. 25 at the Garden against the Heat. That would be around the two-month mark since his ankle surgery.
In his first public comments since being shut down in Houston with ankle pain on Dec. 16, Rose revealed the Dec. 22 surgery removed a bone spur from his deltoid ligament and included a regular “scope.”
When asked directly if he has a return date in mind, Rose said, “A little bit after All-Star. Taking my time still. It sucks right now. I had to get my mind right for this grind. I’ve been here numerous times.’’
The Knicks, who host Sacramento on Monday, have fallen to 12th place with a 23-27 record and a vicious five-game western journey looming beginning Saturday.
Their point guard play has been below average and the club is 0-5 in the games starter Kemba Walker has played since returning from his latest injury. Last season, the Knicks won 69 percent of the games Rose played.
“Right now it’s — we’ve been saying it the whole year — urgency,” Rose said. “Just playing with a sense of urgency. I don’t know when we’re going to get it but it’s making sure we stay together.”
Rose said he was in a lot of pain in the several games leading into the Houston contest when he sat out the second half. According to Rose, the major soreness started after playing in Chicago on Nov. 21, meaning he played in discomfort for nearly a month.
“I felt relief right away after the surgery,” Rose said. “I felt the relief. I’m just being very, very appreciative of where I am at and how much I did just to get to where I am right now.”
After the surgery, the Knicks announced Rose would be out at least eight weeks, and there’s no plan to beat the timetable.
“I was trying to get through it,” Rose said about playing in distress. “But right when I was on the court and I was overthinking everything, that’s when I knew I had to stop playing. Whenever I’m out there and I’m overthinking and not reacting, it was time. I tried everything from taping my ankles. Even after the games, taping my ankles because it was hurting so bad. Just tried everything you could do and it was still hurting. That’s when I looked to get the surgery.
“I had never felt that pain before.”
Rose said he was cleared to jump a few days ago but still is at least a week from practicing.
“It’s a slow progress,” he said. “I still have scar tissue. Whenever you reach that progression like that, within the next few weeks, I’m able to jump now. I’m out of my boot. I’m looking at that as exciting for me — not having to sleep in a boot.
“It sucks, but at the same time I was prepping myself for this grind. After I found out, I had to change my mindset to get right for it. It is my fifth, sixth rehab. I can’t complain, can’t bitch about it. I just have to get it done.”
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said the Knicks have missed his “veteran leadership.’’ Rose joined the Knicks on their recently completed 0-3 road trip, but there’s only so much he can do from the bench.
“I never wanted to be the dude that wasn’t playing that was saying too much,’’ Rose said. “You don’t want to be that dude. You’re saying a lot, calling out everything but you’re not in the game. I say what I need to say at times but it’s never beating them over the head with certain instructions.”
The Knicks coach hinted Rose could return to his backup role as he mentioned how well “the second group’’ works with him and how Rose gets Obi Toppin going with “the fast pace” he brings.
However, the Knicks will have to make moves by the Feb. 10 trade deadline with Walker clearly a candidate. There’s already no room for newcomer Cam Reddish.
“It’s extremely tough not being there,’’ Rose said. “We’re four games under. It could change right away. In the East, everyone’s bunched up, three, four teams bunched up. There’s a chance but it’s about clicking at the right time, figuring things out on the court, adapting while you’re playing instead of after the game trying to make those adjustments.’’
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