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Why Derrick Rose’s return to All-Star glory may have to wait

SAN FRANCISCO – Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose would love for his 2-year-old son to watch him play in the NBA All-Star Game next month in New York, but he realizes that might not happen.

It wasn’t that long ago that being an All-Star starter was a given for Rose, the NBA’s 2011 Most Valuable Player. The three-time All-Star, however, hasn’t played in the game since 2012 after being sidelined for most of the past two seasons because of a knee injury. And with strong competition not only in the Eastern Conference but on his own team, it’s a real possibility that Rose won’t make the team this year.

“It would mean a lot to make it,” Rose told Yahoo Sports after the Bulls’ shootaround Tuesday. “It shows what you have done for that year. It’s a great accolade and it’s great on your résumé. I know it would be great for not only myself, but for my family for them to come there.

“This is the first year my son [Derrick Rose Jr.] would be available to come. It would be great in that way in terms of it being family-oriented.”

Derrick Rose goes up for a basket against the Warriors on Tuesday night. (USAT)
Derrick Rose goes up for a basket against the Warriors on Tuesday night. (USAT)

Rose does have an All-Star case after being limited to 49 games the previous two seasons.

The No. 1 pick in the 2008 NBA draft is averaging 18.6 points, 4.9 assists and 3.1 rebounds this season. Rose finished with 30 points and seven rebounds – but 11 turnovers – and hit the game-winning jumper to snap the Golden State Warriors’ 19-game home winning streak in a 113-111 overtime victory Tuesday. He is averaging 20 points, 4.9 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 33.3 minutes per game in January.

“I’m competing with guys that have been in rhythm and have been playing continuous for numerous years now,” Rose said. “I missed two years. For me to be able to step on the court, still compete, still be on the scouting board and game-planned for, I think I’m doing a good job.

“[My appreciation] is at an all-time high, just knowing how important [basketball] is to me. It’s a great feeling.”

The coaches of both conferences have already turned in their votes for the All-Star reserves, who will be announced Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. The coaches were able to pick two guards and three frontcourt players, and make two wild-card selections for the game on Feb. 15.

The challenge for Rose, however, is the long list of talented guards in the East. The Washington Wizards’ John Wall and the Toronto Raptors’ Kyle Lowry were voted in as starters by the fans. East All-Star reserve candidates include Rose, Chicago’s Jimmy Butler, the Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade, the Atlanta Hawks’ Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving (last year's ASG MVP) and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Brandon Knight.

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau isn’t the type to call his fellow East coaches to sell them on his players for All-Star honors, but he believes the resilient Rose deserves a selection.

“It’s been a challenge,” Thibodeau told Yahoo Sports. “[Rose] had a minutes restriction early on and that was just lifted. If you look at the way he’s played, he is certainly at the top of the league with all the guards. But this is the one position that is really loaded. You can make a case for a lot of guys, but he is an All-Star.”

Forward Pau Gasol, in his first year with the Bulls, was voted in as an East frontcourt starter by the fans. Butler is averaging a team-best 20.1 points and has been regarded as the Bulls’ top player this season. Having three All-Stars might be a bit much for a team that has the East’s fourth-best record at 30-17.

“In the East, who knows?” Rose said. “We’ll have to see. I’m not the one picking. I would love it. We got a winning record, but our biggest thing is winning games and not All-Star [selections].”

The Hawks have the East’s best record at 37-8 and hope to land four All-Stars in Teague and Korver, and frontcourt players Paul Millsap and Al Horford. The Cleveland Cavaliers are hoping for three with frontcourt starter LeBron James and reserve candidates Irving and forward Kevin Love.

Thibodeau said he was “hopeful” the Bulls would get three All-Stars.

“The unfortunate part is there is going to be some very deserving players that are going to be left off,” Thibodeau said. “You’d like to see there be more players recognized, but unfortunately you can’t. But the flip side is if there were more players they wouldn’t get the opportunity to play as much in the game.

“It’s tough. There are usually two or three guys that are deserving, that you certainly can make a case for and you wouldn’t be wrong, that will be left off. But hopefully it works out for us.”

Rose said he doesn’t have any vacation plans ready if he’s not on the All-Star team, but he would make the best of the break.

“I could always use time off as far as taking care of my body and recovery-wise,” Rose, 26, said. “Just treating myself [and resting], but in a different way that is going to help me when I return to the game.”