But the addition of the Olympics and another season in which the Bulls had the league’s best regular-season record, yet didn’t reach their ultimate goal of winning a championship to a list of missed opportunities just adds fuel to Rose’s fire during a long recovery process in which he’s conscious of skeptics doubting whether he’ll be the same player when Tommy Edwards’ familiar “From Chicago…” is again, finally announced over the United Center’s public-address system to end the introduction of the Bulls’ starting lineup.

“I know it’s going to push me even harder. It seemed like I missed all last year — played games here and there, but I still missed a lot of games — and this year, I know a whole bunch of haters out there are saying so many things,” (Derrick) Rose said. “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,’ or this and that — I know that’s going to push me as a player. I’m listening and watch everything, and if I don’t hear it, best believe one of my friends hears it and they’re telling me. That’s why I love them to death because they know that motivates me and makes me want to do better as a player.”

Speaking of motivation, on the topic of the rival Miami Heat winning a title, Rose said, “With them winning a championship? Hopefully mine is next year and that’s the way I’m looking at it. I’ve just got to believe in myself, believe in the team and really work my butt off”

via Aggrey Sam of Comcast Sportsnet