New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek told reporters on Wednesday point guard Derrick Rose will not play in the team’s final two preseason games.
“I don’t think he’ll be back until [Thursday] at the earliest,” Hornacek said after New York’s shootaround in Boston.
Rose is handling a civil trial in Los Angeles, in which his ex-girlfriend has accused he and two of his closest friends of gang raping her in 2013. A verdict is expected in the coming days.
The former NBA Most Valuable Player appeared in the preseason opener against Houston, where he scored 16 points (7-14 FG) and dished out five assists in 25 minutes.
Reports show Hornacek believes Rose will rejoin the team on Friday, where he will workout and go over Triangle sets with the coaching staff. The Knicks coach contemplated sending an assistant coach to Los Angeles to teach Rose the new folds of the offense the team has implemented, but ultimately decided against it.
Rose has been working out on his own while away from the team but has not been able to develop a rapport with his teammates over the preseason.
“”It would’ve been nice if he was here and played and got in a rhythm with guys,” Hornacek said. “We do have some days of practice before the first game. Even after the Cleveland game, we’ll have time to do things.”
New York acquired Rose from the Chicago Bulls in a summertime trade that sent Robin Lopez, Jerian Grant and Jose Calderon packing. The 28-year-old guard averaged 16.4 points and 4.7 assists in 66 games with the Bulls last season.
Rose said the Triangle Offense was difficult to grasp at first. Missed time may not help him come opening night.
Kristian Winfield covers the New York Knicks for Elite Sports NY. You can start the conversation on Twitter @Krisplashed.
