Rose sorry for 'kill yourself' remark

Minnesota Timberwolves star Derrick Rose apologized on Monday for telling anyone who thought he wouldn't keep playing well to "kill yourself".

The 30-year-old guard was answering a question about how he would fare in the wake of Sunday's firing of Minnesota's coach and president Tom Thibodeau, who also coached Rose when he became the NBA's youngest Most Valuable Player with the Chicago Bulls in 2011.

"I have a lot of confidence in myself," Rose said. "Thibs was just the coach that believed in me. I mean, he jump-started my career again and for that I'll always be thankful.