Though Derrick Rose gave fans a reassuring shout out and thank you for support video through his Facebook page in addition to the freshly released return video by adidas, the superstar point guard has yet to open up 1-on-1 about his ACL injury that cut the Bulls’ title hopes short in Game 1 of the 2012 playoffs and sent him on a 8-12 month recovery mission – until now.  Derrick Rose sat down with Aggrey Sam of CSN Chicago this summer while training out in Los Angeles.  The interview is highlighted below, with video:

Courtesy of CSN Chicago:

On tearing his ACL:

“I remember it. I remember everything. I remember jumping in the air and coming back down, and just that popping sound. I felt it actually tear when I laid all the way out and it just let go…When that happened, all I could think about was people just talking. You could hear the whole arena, people just whispering all around — one of the things, like ‘Not again. Come on, man. First game back. We had the win‘ — and I was just hoping [it was] nothing serious…

Dr. Cole, the Bulls doctor, came up to me and told me it was torn. I couldn’t believe it. That’s the closest thing to death, the closest to death I’ve got to right there, where it just seemed like the wind and everything was taken out [of me].

It hurt, of course. It seemed like I wasted a year. I remember when I was having all those injuries, I was just thinking, ‘All right, I’ll be ready for the playoffs.’ First game of the playoffs, tear my ACL; can’t stay mad or irritated for months. I can’t do that. It’ll bring me down.“

On his summer rehab:

“I’m good, man. I definitely haven’t been out like that, but I’m doing fine, just trying to stay positive, keep everything normal…Just doing therapy out here, five days out of the week. Weekends, I’m not doing anything. It’s been hard, definitely been hard. But I’ve been all right. I know I’m going to be all right. I believe in God, my spirits are up and I believe in myself, and I know I’m going to be back even stronger.

“[I’m just] taking my time. I’m definitely two or three weeks ahead of where I’m supposed to be, but that still [doesn't] help the part healing-wise. I’ve still got to take that time off for my leg to heal. Of course, strength-wise it’s getting better every day, but scar tissue still has to heal, getting used to me just laying on my knees. Knee’s still numb in some areas. Hopefully I’ll get over that, but the doctor says I’ll forget about it when the season goes on, so I should be all right.”

This year, I know a whole bunch of haters are out there saying so many things, I think that’s what’s going to drive me. Thinking about what people are saying, ’Is he going to be back, is he going to have his speed, this and that’…I know that’s going to push me as a player.“

What he wants the fans to know:

“That I’m good, man. My biggest thing is just them feeling sorry for me. I’m walking, I’m able to play this sport again, so I hope they continue to come out, cheer for the team next year, we’re definitely going to need them , and stay patient.”

Full Video: Derrick Rose Uncut