Thursday’s daily gossip is here as we continue our stories from the penultimate day before the weekend.
D-Rose taking contact in practice
Chicago Bulls fans might be drowning their sorrows over the loss in the first round of the NBA Playoffs to Washington Wizards, but a smile might just be creeping back to their faces as Derrick Rose has started ‘taking contact’ in training.
And unlike most coaches, who would cringe at seeing their star play internationally, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau is urging Rose to represent the USA this summer at the FIBA World Cup of Basketball.
“[It was] good,” Thibodeau told ESPN. “He’s right on schedule. So this is the next phase now. The rehab part went well. The non-contact stuff went well. So now this is the next step which is good.”
Thibodeau reiterated that there is no doubt in his mind that Rose will return to his old form.
“The thing is he’s had two unfortunate injuries,” Thibodeau said. “I think he’s put a lot of work into his body. So we’re optimistic that he’s going to make a complete and full recovery. Hopefully he’ll have an opportunity to play some this summer with USA Basketball and then we’ll go from there.”
D’Antoni in the Dogghouse
Rapper Snoop Dogg has taken to Instagram to air his happiness about Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni resigning.
“Bye bitch bye!! He was a garbage coach,” he wrote.
Magic Johnson shares Snoop’s views
To add to D’Antoni’s woes, Magic Johnson posted this on Twitter:
Happy days are here again! Mike D’Antoni resigns as the Lakers coach. I couldn’t be happier!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 1, 2014
John Wall has a coco addiction
Washington Wizards guard John Wall admits that he drinks two large hot chocolates a day from McDonalds.
“I’ve been doing this since I was little,” he said. “Even in the summer time when it be hot as hell, I’ll be still drinking it.
“I just like hot chocolate that much. It’s a habit. I have one before the game and one in the morning. If I don’t get one in the morning [on off days], I’ll at least get two after practice to go home.”
Fair enough, I guess.
Bob Donewald to return to coach in China
While it isn’t known what team he might go to, former China national team coach Bob Donewald is interested in coming back to the Chinese Basketball Association.
Donewald, who resigned from his post as China coach after they were eliminated in the opening rounds of the 2012 London Olympics formally coached the Shanghai Sharks and led them to the CBA Finals in his first season.
