CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose acknowledged tension between members of his inner circle and team management.
Rose told the Chicago Sun-Times in an article posted Thursday that he knows “it’s been there.”
“I’m happy I didn’t personally see it,” Rose said. “I don’t want to see that. I kind of wonder where it was coming from because it seemed like whenever I was around, everything was all right. It bothered me because when I wasn’t around, I would hear from certain people that everything wasn’t all right.”
There has been speculation in recent years of tension between the organization and Rose’s camp. The newspaper cites unidentified organization sources as saying the strain was over members of his inner circle taking shots at the organization and Rose not playing a bigger role in recruiting Carmelo Anthony.
In a statement, chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and denied any rift between teams management and Rose.
“I am confounded by the irresponsible report in the Chicago Sun-Times suggesting there is anything approaching discord or confusion between the Bulls executive office, coaching staff, and Derrick Rose or any other Bulls player,” Reinsdorf said.
Rose also told the Sun-Times that everyone appears to be on the same page now. The Bulls have big goals next season even though Anthony decided to re-sign with the New York Knicks. That’s because of the additions of Pau Gasol, European star Nikola Mirotic and rookie Doug McDermott and the return of their former MVP point guard after he missed most of last season with a torn meniscus in his right knee.
“It seems like everybody has one goal, from the front office all the way down now,” he told the Sun-Times. “It seems like everyone is finally communicating with each other. That’s all we need. You think about all the championship teams, they say that communication and one goal is usually the recipe. You take away all the other (stuff) and just make it simple.
“This is a new beginning for everybody. We’ve got a new practice facility, a new year where I’m coming back, and we have some great talent. It’s time to turn the page and move in a positive direction.”
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