New York Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek says Derrick Rose will play Tuesday in a preseason opener at Houston despite a trial that is set to start on the same day in Los Angeles to decide a $21.5 million civil sex assault lawsuit against the point guard.
According to the New York Post, Hornacek said he is expecting Rose to play, though the guard has hesitated to fully commit. The process of jury selection begins Tuesday.
"He's going with us, playing the game, and whatever happens after that, we'll see," Hornacek said, according to the Post. "For now that's the plan."
The Knicks practiced Monday morning and were to fly later in the afternoon to Houston.
"As far as right now, in my mind I'm playing, but I don't know,'' Rose said after practice, according to the Post.
Rose added he still needed to discuss his plans with his lawyers.
Rose said Saturday he's in "great condition" and that his training camp with the Knicks has been the best of his career.
"I look at it as the years that I've played in the league, this is the most focus I've had knowing the situation, what I'm getting myself into," Rose said. "The big year we have ahead of us. We're focused, we're dedicated; that's all you want from this group."
The health and stamina of Rose, who has missed two training camps due to injury in the past five seasons, is paramount for the Knicks. He has played in only 39 percent of his games the past four seasons.
Rose reiterated Saturday that the pending trial hasn't been a distraction.
"I'm sensitive to the subject and the topic, but in my mind I feel like I didn't do anything wrong, so I can't waste a lot of time thinking about it. I have a great [legal] team handling it," he said.
Information from ESPN's Ian Begley was used in this report.
