Timberwolves guard Derrick Rose apologized Monday saying he wished anyone who doubted his drive and determination to play in the wake of Tom Thibodeau's firing would "kill yourself."
Rose made the remarks after Wolves practice Monday when he was discussing Thibodeau's ouster. Thibodeau coached Rose in Chicago and helped Rose resurrect his career in Minnesota.
"I have a lot of confidence in myself," Rose said. "Thibs was just the coach that believed in me. He jump-started my career again and for that I'll always be thankful, but for everybody that think that it's going to stop, kill yourself. It's not."
Later in his media session, Rose used the phrasing again.
"Like I said, for everybody that think I'm not going to play the same way, kill yourself, because I believe in myself," Rose said.
Rose issued an apology on his Twitter account after the remarks spread around social media. He said was using slang when speaking.
"I messed up by using the slang term 'kill yourself' today in response to a question about whether I can continue to perform without coach Thibs," Rose tweeted. "I did not mean it literally and regret using it so I apologize."
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