USA Basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski has seen what Bulls guard Derrick Rose can do on the basketball court.
Four years ago, Rose was a key member of the USA men’s team that won the FIBA World Championship in Istanbul, Turkey.
This summer, when Rose is among 19 players from which the 2014 USA World Cup Team will be selected, Krzyzewski hopes Rose will show he is returning to form.
“Well, we’d like to see him play like the Derrick of old, because he is one of the best players in the world, an MVP in the NBA,” said Krzyzewski in a conference call on Monday morning. “What we’ve heard is that he’s in great shape.”
Rose has been working out in Chicago most of the summer and last week, he practiced with the Bulls summer league team before it left for Las Vegas.
“We’ll see how he’s going to do in five-on-five and we’ll have four days to see that,” Krzyzewski said. “On the fifth day, we’ll have the intrasquad game. Hopefully he’s going to be in top shape.
“Derrick’s great, a great guy,” Krzyzewski continued. “I know he loved representing his country in Istanbul in being one of our starting guards. Hopefully this will be a launching pad for him to have a great NBA season.”
USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo called it a “fluid” roster, explaining it could be reduced to “up to 15 players” following the team’s stay in Vegas, which will consist of training camp from July 28-31 and an exhibition game on August 1.
Three more exhibition games in the United States are scheduled, including one on August 16 versus Brazil at the United Center in Chicago.
Colangelo explained that it is possible that the final roster of 12 may not be determined until after the exhibition game on August 22 against Puerto Rico at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. The team will depart for Spain the following day.
Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving and Portland’s Damian Lillard are the other point guards vying for a spot. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook withdrew from the USA Basketball player pool last week.
Krzyzewski also said he spoke with Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau this past weekend. Along with Jim Boeheim of Syracuse University and Monty Williams from the New Orleans Pelicans, Thibodeau is an assistant coach for USA Basketball.
“As a staff, we try to stay close together, not just on one player, but a number of things. We're lucky to have Tom with us,” said Krzyzewski.
The FIBA Basketball World Cup will begin August 30 in Spain.