Knicks president Phil Jackson said Derrick Rose to focus on the upcoming season and the competition, instead of the $21.5 million rape lawsuit that involve the point guard. Rose's trial is scheduled on thesame day the Kincks' NBA preseason game begin.
Jackson stated that he wanted Rose and the entire Knicks organization to focus on the upcoming season. He does not want the lawsuit to bother the entire team preparation.
"We want to put this to rest. There doesn't need to be a lot of talk about this. Concerns about how our team is going to fit together are some of the biggest priorities for us," New York Daily News quoted Jackson as saying.
Rose was accused to gang rape his ex-girlfiriend in 2013, as he was allegedly breaking into her Los Angeles house with two of his friends and raping her. The unidentified girlfried filed a deposition last month and the case is scheduled to go to trial before the California US District Judge Michael Fitzgerald on Oct. 4 in Los Angeles.
His trial date is exactly the same day as the first game of Knicks to face Houston Rockets in their opening pre-season game. In order to maintain the team's focus, Jackson wants his organization to focus on the competition and the upcoming season.
Following his earlier statement, Jackson refused to comment further about Derrick Rose's case. He refused to answer question addressed to him and general manager Steve Mills about the team's dilligence in vetting the point guard's legal issue, ESPN reported.
New York Knicks have revamped the roster to make the team ready for the new season. In the fontcourt the Knicks already have Carmelo Anthony and Joakim Noah along with the 7'3" Latvian forward and center Kristaps Porzingis. What they need is a fearless point guard who has the capacity to drive into the rim and passing the ball as well, and Derrick Rose is expected to complete the puzzle.
The Knicks will need Rose to focus on the game. Therefore, Phil Jackson insisted the main concern for the team is in the upcoming season.
