It's been more than two weeks since Derrick Rose last suited up for the Cavs, and now there's a chance the former NBA MVP may never play again, according to reports.
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Rose suffered a sprained ankle against the Bucks on November 21, an ailment that's caused him to miss Cleveland's last seven games, a stretch during which the three-time reigning Eastern Conference champions have gone 6-1, righting many of their early-season wrongs.
Now, the 29-year-old could be contemplating retirement. Quoting a team source, ESPN's Dave McMenamin and Adrian Wojnarowski are reporting Rose has been away from the team for going on a week as he considers whether or not to forge through with his rehab and continue his career.
A three-time all-star, Rose, signed a one-year $2.1 million deal with the Cavs this offseason after spending last season with the New Knicks.
He was expected to be a solid fill-in for all-NBA point guard Isaiah Thomas, whom Cleveland acquired from the Celtics in the deal that sent Kyrie Irving to Boston, as he recovers from a lingering hip injury.
However, Rose has missed 11 of the Cavs' 18 games with due to injury.
The No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2008, Rose spent his first seven seasons in the NBA with his hometown Chicago Bulls, where he became a household name, capturing Rookie of the Year honors in 2009 and being named league MVP honor sin 2011.
After signing a five-year $94 million extension with the Bulls, Rose tore the ACL in his left knee in the 2012 playoffs, forcing him to miss all of the 2012-13 campaign.
He played just 10 games in 2013-14 before tearing the meniscus in right knee, forcing him to undergo season-ending surgery.
Rose, whose absence is excused, was last with the Cavs (11-7) Monday. In seven games, he's averaging 14.3 points, 1.7 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 26.9 minutes per game.