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The New York Knicks announced Monday night that Derrick Rose was not with the team and that they did not know where he was. Guard Brandon Jennings started in Rose’s place in the Knicks’ game against the Pelicans.
Adrian Wojnarowski reported Rose’s teammates and close associates, as well as Knicks officials, were unaware of the reason for his absence until Rose reached team officials, telling them he had a family situation and had returned to his hometown of Chicago.
Coach Jeff Hornacek was quoted as saying, “Everything will become clear later on,” and teammate Joakim Noah said Rose was OK.
Via ESPN:
“I mean, I don’t really want to talk too much about it because I don’t really know what the situation is,” said Noah, who has played with Rose since 2008 as his teammate in Chicago before coming to New York along with Rose prior to this season. “Obviously Derrick is one of our better players. And when he is not here it is tough. But I am just happy that everything is OK with him.”
When asked if Rose’s health is OK in light of his absence, Noah replied, “Yeah. He’s OK … I think it’s a relief for all of us.”
“Everything will become clear later on,” Hornacek said. “You know, we want to respect whatever he’s going through. We’re just not going to comment on it.”
No update on Rose’s situation has been provided since.
Sources: There are team officials, teammates and close associates unclear of reason for Derrick Rose's absence for Knicks-Pelicans at MSG.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 10, 2017
