Philippines, 17 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


NBA -- The Return takes flight


PhilBoxing.com




CHICAGO -- This city waited a full year for its star, Derrick Rose, to return to NBA basketball. And the wait has been well worth it.

The former MVP and 3-time All-Star finally stepped foot on the United Center floor for the first time after a 17-month layoff due to an ACL tear on his left knee. Rose already has three preseason games under his belt but Wednesday night's tiff was his first in front of an expectant, eager home crowd.

Rose delivered a scintillating performance and his Bulls dispatched the Detroit Pistons with relative ease, 96-81.

One of the questions plaguing Rose's comeback was the concern regarding his ability to recapture his pre-injury explosiveness and the trauma that might cause him to be tentative in playing the kind of aggressive basketball that has become his calling card.

Rose's first two preseason games went along without any problems but doubts surfaced when he sat out the Bulls' NBA-mandated duel against the Washington Wizards in Rio De Janiero, Brazil because of knee soreness.

All the fears went away again Wednesday night at the United Center where Rose played hard and scored his first bucket through a hard driving layup. He took some hits and spills but he dusted himself each time, scoring eight points in the opening quarter where the Bulls took a 24-16 lead and never looked back.

When asked about being tentative and his explosiveness, Rose said "the tentativeness is gone." He also believes he is "way more explosive now."

Rose played 22 minutes overall in the Bulls victory. His biggest play happened at the end of the second quarter. With about 15 seconds left before the halftime break, the Bulls ran an isolation play for Rose where he rocked his defender --- an overwhelmed rookie named Peyton Siva --- and drove to the lane for a traditional 3-point play, getting the harm and the hoop. The crowd erupted and soon after the chants of "MVP!! MVP!!" echoed throughout the arena like it was 2011.

Rose finished the game with 22 points to lead all scores. He did not play in the fourth quarter, but the Bulls were up 25 and the game was well beyond the Pistons' reach.
This may only be a preseason game, but Rose has shown that he is ready to guide the Bulls back to the playoffs and be contenders against the two-time defending champions Miami Heat.
The Bulls will play the Indiana Pacers in their fifth preseason game on Friday. They are currently undefeated at 5-0. (KM)


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Kelly Manalo.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Esneth Domingo Trains at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles Ahead of His US Debut
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Tatay Digong Birthday Run on March 28
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • 12-0 prospect Marco Romero to headline This Friday in Independence, Missouri
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • 700 athletes on March 21-22 at UM
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Mexico wins 2 bronze medals at World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • WBC top contender Canoy returns to Davao with Unanimous Decision Victory
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • John Randall Peralta: The Future of the Philippine Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Alvin “Felemon” Dologuin Claims Win in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand (PHOTOS)
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Oval rules 35th CityHeights slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Sims vs. Barboza and Dickens vs. Cacace Headline Doubleheader on DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit sustains amazing run of victories at WPBA Pool in New York
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weights Set in Anaheim: Barboza Jr. and Sims Jr. Ready for Welterweight War; Collazo Defends Titles
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rising Young Star Yoenis Tellez Takes on Top Contender Brian Mendoza in New Co-Main Event of PBC Pay-per-View Event Available on Prime Video Saturday, March 28
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Five USA Boxers Qualify for Medal Rounds on Day Six of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit off to hot start in her WPBA debut
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Pavel Sosulin stops Victor Nagbe to remain unbeaten at IBA Pro 15 in Saint Petersburg
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Nicaraguan Boxing Commission hold Annual Awards to 2025 winners
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • BARBOZA JR. VS. SIMS JR. FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.