Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose Still Rehabbing His Knee As He Prepares For Return; Missing Season "Hardest Thing I've Had To Go Through"

Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is still rehabbing his surgically repaired knee, saying missing the entire 2012-13 was the hardest thing he had to go through in his life.

In an interview with Bulls TV, Rose spoke for the first time about the experience he had while recovering from his left ACL injury.

"It was hard. One of the hardest things I've had to go through in my life," Rose said in a report by Bulls TV. "After surgery, when you start running ... when you have an injury like this, there is stages you have to go through, I'm still going through my stages. I'm not done yet, but this is the most I've ever worked on my craft and the most focused I've ever been in my NBA career.

Rose, who suffered an ACL injury in Game 1 of the Bulls first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers on May 12, 2012, said he had to be selfish for the first time in his life to make sure his future basketball career remains intact.

"I'm not a selfish guy at all, but having this injury and going through what I had to go through and being smart, it's something that I had to be selfish with. I couldn't worry about anyone else but myself and my health," said Rose.

The 2010-11 NBA MVP has been heavily criticized by NBA fans, including Bulls followers, for his decision to sit on the bench despite receiving a medical clearance to play after All-Star break.

Rose did not rule out coming back even during the Bulls' second round series against the Miami Heat, but the All-Star point guard never logged in a single second on the floor and consequently gave several Bulls fans some doubt about the loyalty of the Chicago-native baller to his team.