Derrick Rose: Going to be alright

— -- CHICAGO -- Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose said Thursday he won't close the door on returning for the playoffs if his surgically-repaired knee is "healthy and the situation is right."

"If I'm healthy and the situation is right I'm going to be back playing," Rose said Thursday during a press conference, his first public comments since tearing the meniscus in high right knee on Nov. 23. "If I'm healthy and my meniscus is fully healed of course I'll be out there playing, but if it's something totally different and the outcome is not how I would want it to be, there's no need."

The Bulls declared Rose out for the season after he underwent surgery on the meniscus on Nov. 25. General manager Gar Forman told ESPNChicago.com last week that Rose is "really out" for the season, despite the Bulls' potential for a postseason berth in the East.

Whenever Rose does return, he is confident he will still be an elite player. Asked how he would respond to those who question whether he can still be the franchise cornerstone after suffering his second season-ending knee injury in as many years, Rose said: "You can be a fool if you want to. Dead serious. I know I'm going to be alright. I believe that I'm a special player."