Bulls guard Derrick Rose returned to practice Friday after a day off on Thursday.
While both Rose and Joakim Noah have played sparingly thus far in the preseason, Tom Thibodeau indicated both could see some additional time Saturday in Milwaukee (7:30 p.m. CT on WGN and NBA TV).
“We’ll see how they are (Saturday) but we’ll gradually increase as we move along,” Thibodeau stated.
It will be Rose and the Bulls’ first meeting with Bucks rookie Jabari Parker, who, like Rose, attended Simeon Career Academy for high school. Each went to college for a year—Parker at Duke and Rose at Memphis—before becoming a top pick in the NBA Draft. Rose was selected first in 2008, while Parker was taken second this past June.
“Great player,” said Thibodeau of Parker. “He’s got a great feel for the game. You think about Simeon and then he goes to Duke and it tells you a lot about how he thinks. He wanted a great challenge, did a great job last year and now he’s on to the next step.
“He’s a basketball player,” Thibodeau added of Parker. “He does everything. He can shoot, pass, dribble, post and play multiple positions. I think he fits the pro game well.”
Thibodeau was a member of Mike Krzyzewski’s USA Basketball staff over the summer and Parker was someone they discussed.
“He’s a little biased,” Thibodeau cracked of Krzyzewski’s thoughts. “He’s a Chicago guy and a Duke guy. He enjoyed coaching him. It was great for Coach K and it was great for Jabari. That experience, I think when you go to Duke you understand what it is to be part of a team. Same thing at Simeon. Great tradition, great history, and that prepares you to play your best.”
Doug McDermott was taken nine spots after Parker on draft night, but the Bulls rookie said he won’t get caught up in trying to prove himself or make an early statement when the teams face off.
“I don’t really look at it like that. All of us are competitive,” said McDermott. “The draft is the draft and everyone goes a certain number. Definitely certain guys have chips on their shoulder. I’m the kind of guy that has a chip on his shoulder against anyone, whether it is Jabari Parker or anyone that I’m guarding. He probably views it the same way. Just because he went higher doesn’t mean he’s entitled to anything different. We’re just going to go out there and play basketball.”