Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose could Return in 4-6 Weeks

The Chicago Bulls announced that their star player, Derrick Rose, could return earlier than previously estimated.

The team revealed that Rose's surgery to repair a medial meniscus tear was successful and his return timetable is currently estimated to be anywhere from four to six weeks.

"I talked to Derrick a couple times this week and obviously, he was really disappointed about being injured," General manager Gar Forman said. "But I think he's in a really good place and I think he's ready to attack this rehab the next several weeks and I know he's really anxious to get back out onto the floor with his teammates."

Rose, who had his operation on Friday, was able to walk out of the hospital. He is expected to start rehab within a week. It is not clear whether or not Rose would play in any regular season or playoff games. If he does play, he could be have minute restrictions.

"We just got to be patient and just give him the time he needs to get through the rehab," Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said. "This rehab is much shorter. The other ones, they were expected to be long."

Rose's injury was announced this past Tuesday after an MRI exam revealed a tear in his right knee. Just last season, Rose suffered a similar injury that caused him to miss the entire year after playing only 10 games. He also missed the entire 2012-13 season due to torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that he sustained during the first round of the playoffs in the 2011-12 season.

Due to these knee injuries, many have questioned whether or not the youngest player to ever win the NBA Most Valuable Player award in 2011 would ever be as dominant on the court. Only time will tell whether or not Rose can comeback for a third time in his professional career.

"I'm happy that he's going to be all right," teammate Joakim Noah said. "Time will tell. Rehab is no joke. Especially he's been doing it for three years now. I think it's mental at this point, having to put in all this work all the time. It's repetitive, it's very boring, especially when the games are going on. You want to play."

In this season so far, Rose is averaging 18.4 points and 5.0 assists in 31 minutes. In his career, he averages 20.5 points and 6.5 assists in 35.9 minutes.

The Bulls (36-22) are fourth in the Eastern Conference.