National Basketball Association

Bulls' Noah goes off: Rose critics 'need to chill the f*** out'

Published Nov. 13, 2014 11:59 p.m. ET

foxsports

Derrick Rose has been taking hits from all angles recently.

In addition to dealing with nagging injuries after two years of grueling rehab -- including another one suffered to his hamstring Thursday night -- he's also taken an onslaught of criticism for his recent comments about sitting out games so he won't have to limp around after his career is through. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau called Rose a "lightning rod" before the game, urging critics to "take a step back" and be patient.

Well, now we can count Bulls teammate Joakim Noah among those jumping to Rose's defense, and he didn't mince words.

In postgame comments after the Bulls' win over the Raptors -- a game in which Rose scored 20 points before exiting late with the injury -- Noah slammed those who have questioned Rose's toughness and priorities, reportedly saying he's "sometimes portrayed as something he's not."

"Every time something happens to him, people act like it's the end of the world," Noah said. "And that's f***ing so lame to me ... Obviously we're being conservative with him, and when things aren't going right, he's got to listen to his body more than anybody. So everybody needs to chill the f*** out."

Noah added that while the Bulls definitely need Rose on the court, he trusts the three-time All-Star to make the right decisions when it comes to his health.

"I know how much he cares about the game. I see it every day. ... You don't come back from the injuries that he's coming back from without unbelievable commitment."