Derrick Rose is at the Team USA minicamp, and the basketball world is curious on whether the Old Rose is back. He is, but a different, smarter version!

After missing almost two entire seasons due to injury, Rose realized that the first thing about being a valuable player is the ability to show up. He talked to NBC Sports:

"I'm able to control my body a little bit more, using my speed more, being smart with my speed rather than just running wild out there. I've become a smarter player, but I'm mad it took me seven years to learn it."

Rose endeared himself to fans because of his intensity and devil-may-care style of play. That led to spectacular drives and explosive dunks. It's not entirely taken out of his game, but there were new elements.

"Trying to use a lot of floaters, a lot of pull-ups, stuff like that so you aren't touched as much. I think when I came back last time I wanted it too bad. I was trying to force the game. This time around I'm trying to let the game come to me, of course be aggressive at times, but be in control of the game and be smarter, and be able to run the team at the point guard position."

He also talked about the changes in his team, the Chicago Bulls: "When you think about Gasol coming in, winning championships and bringing that experience to our team, him being around our bigs like Joakim and giving them advice and talking to them, I think that's what we needed."

Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski expressed great relief seeing Rose back. He has a word with critics who call Rose a 'soft' player because of injuries: "He's one of the great people and one of the great players and to get multiple injuries like that can defeat anybody mentally. I don't see that. He should be applauded for what he's doing. I'm a Chicago person and I've very happy he's back, not just for Team USA but the Bulls."

Indeed, the entire basketball world is all the better for the return of D-Rose.