Chicago Bulls superstar Derrick Rose was selected in the 19-man pool of Team USA for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup that will take place in August in Spain.
Rose, who missed all but 10 games over the past two seasons due to knee injuries, is expected to be strongly considered for one of the point guard spots in the national team.
USA Basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski is hoping that Rose, who helped the team win the gold medal in the 2010 World Basketball Championships, will be ready to compete for a spot against Damian Lillard and Kyrie Irving.
"Well, we'd like to see him play like the Derrick of old, one of the best players in the world, an MVP in the NBA," Krzyzewski said via Chicago Tribune. "What we've heard is he's in great shape. We'll see how he'll do in five-on-five, on the fifth day we'll do intrasquad. Hopefully he's going to be in top shape."
Rose missed the entire 2012-13 season due to a torn ACL in his left knee. The 25-year-old point guard returned to action last season, but his comeback was cut short after tearing a meniscus in his right knee.
The All-Star point guard has been participating in five-on-five drills, most recently with the Bulls Summer League Team. Krzyzewski that Rose's possible stint with the national team will jump start his resurgence.
"Derrick's a great player, a great guy. I know representing his country in Istanbul as one of our starting guards was a great experience for him. Hopefully this will be a launching pad for him to have a great NBA season," Krzyzewski said.
Rose, who averaged 15.9 points and 4.3 rebounds in 10 games last season, previously said that he is still unsure about participating in USA Basketball training camp later this month, but Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, who is one of Krzyzewski's assistants, confirmed that Rose will be present.
According to reports, Team USA will begin training on July 28 to August 1 in Las Vegas where four more players are expected to be cut from the pool. The 15-man team will ten play against Brazil on August 16 in Chicago and two more exhibition matches in New York.
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