CHICAGO -- Just one day after having a meniscectomy to repair a torn medial meniscus in his right knee, Derrick Rose was back at the Chicago Bulls' training facility on Saturday beginning his rehab process.
"He's good," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "He came in, started his rehab, it's good."
Bulls general manager Gar Forman said Friday the organization expects Rose to be back on the floor within 4-6 weeks. Thibodeau wouldn't divulge exactly what Rose was able to do, but did say the process was moving forward.
"It's just the initial steps," Thibodeau said. "But we're cautiously optimistic, he's in good spirits. He's on it, so it's good."
Thibodeau did acknowledge that Rose's rehab process has already been scheduled with the help of Bulls team doctors and trainers.
"It's mapped out with the medical people," Thibodeau said. "The one thing about Derrick is he's been through a few of them. He'll follow the plan and hopefully everything goes fine."
Like many within the organization, Thibodeau is hopeful that Rose will be able to bounce back from the mental hurdle of this latest setback quicker than he has in the past given that the latest procedure isn't as in depth as the last two. Rose tore the ACL in his left knee on April 30, 2012, and tore the medial meniscus in his right knee for the first time on November 22, 2013.
"He's been through two tough ones," Thibodeau said. "I think he's gained confidence from that. The ACL knee is great and he knew [a re-tear] was a possibility going in. He's in a good place and he'll deal with it. He'll get past this."
In other injury-related news, Thibodeau said Bulls power forward Taj Gibson was "doubtful' for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers after spraining his left ankle in Friday's win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Thibodeau is hopeful that Pau Gasol will be able to play Sunday after missing Friday's game because of an illness. He said Gasol got some shots up during Saturday's light practice.