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Rose: 'The only thing I could work on is being a better person'

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Derrick Rose said he felt "a little bit" vindicated when a panel of jurors found him to be not liable of rape in a civil lawsuit on Thursday.

Having put the case in the rearview mirror (although there is still an ongoing criminal investigation into the case), Rose reflected upon the ordeal by pledging himself to be a better person.

"A little bit (vindicated)" Rose told ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk about the case Saturday.

"But at the same time, there was another person that was involved in this. So, if anything, I've just been praying for myself and praying for her because the issue is very big in the States and everywhere. So just praying for everyone that was involved and knowing that all this is out of my control.

"The only thing I could work on is being a better person, being a better dad, brother, cousin, uncle. Being the best I could be so I could help others."

Rose also said being in civil court made him all the more motivated to return to the hardwood.

"I'm very confident, man," Rose said. "I really believe this why I'm here, to hoop. I still have a lot of confidence in my ability. The confidence never left. If anything (the trial) made me focus a little more, like having time to myself in the gym and just working on things that I think I need to work on."

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