A Rose Blooms in Chicago...Again.

Tonight marks the return of Derrick Rose to the NBA. As a basketball fan I have waited patiently for the return of one of the games best and most exciting players. During the 2011/2012 playoffs, the city of Chicago watched as their former Rookie of the Year and MVP fell to the ground in pain. Many believed he would be able to return after the 2013 All Star break, however as the season continued it became more clear that Rose had other plans.

In today's ego first world of professional sports, most professional athletes would've have forced the effort and caved in to the outside urges to play. Rose, who lets be honest is cut from a different mold ignored the critics and stayed away. He sat silently on the bench as his team fought hard against the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of playoffs and was clearly agitated that he couldn't contribute during their second round exit against the Miami Heat.

So after a summer full of skepticism, cool commercials, tweets and anticipation Rose will return. The world has waited patiently and many believe his return marks the only chance of a team possibly dethroning the Champs. After all, before his injury Rose's Bulls routinely gave Miami fits. They pushed them in the playoffs during his last full season and they were expected (had he returned) along with the Pacers to provide the biggest threat to the Heat.

Rose is as much a necessity to the Bulls as Kobe Bryant is to the Lakers and Dirk Nowitzki is to the Mavericks. Like those two future Hall of Famers, Rose has played his entire career for the same team, but he has one up on them, he is from the city. He is the savior of the Bulls organization and first true superstar in the post Jordan era. He is the dream superstar in the Post Iverson NBA, because he doesn't need 20 shots to get 20 points and he is all about the team. His explosive ability makes him lethal in transition and feared in the half court. The hope is that, the injury has not taken away from that. If players like RGIII and Adrian Peterson have made full recoveries, it's safe to assume Rose who had longer to recover will be business as usual.

The league is a better place with all of the superstars healthy and playing. The NBA is more enjoyable and less predictable. So here's hoping that Rose will be back to dunking on people with that stone demeanor of his, while leading his team deep into the playoffs and reclaiming his spot as a top 5 player in the game.

The Draft Fanatic.