Phil Jackson Comments on Derrick Rose Rape Case

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson stated Friday he doesn't believe the upcoming rape case involving Derrick Rose will have an impact on the guard's season.

Ian Begley of ESPN passed along comments from Jackson about the situation, with the civil trial set to begin in early October. "We anticipate that it will not affect his season hopefully, training camp or games," Jackson said.

He added, "It's not something that's keeping him up at night," per Adam Zagoria of SNY.

Begley noted Jackson said the Knicks are going to let the legal process take its course. He also wouldn't provide any additional information about the extent to which he researched the situation before New York acquired the point guard in a June blockbuster trade with the Chicago Bulls.

The case is expected to enter the trial phase Oct. 4. Katie Mettler of the Washington Post reported Wednesday that the latest development saw the U.S. district judge rule the accuser must reveal her full name after previously being listed as Jane Doe. She alleges Rose and two friends gang-raped her following a party in 2013.

The accuser discussed her emotional state following the alleged incident during an exclusive interview with Janie McCauley of the Associated Press earlier in September: "I didn't want to tell anyone what happened. I didn't want nobody to know. I wanted to erase the fact that I woke up the way I did. I only told him [my co-worker] because it was almost necessary for me the way I walked in. I felt like I wasn't going to be able to do the job for that day."

She also talked about the issue of anonymity with the AP: "I want to share my story so women can know that they are able to come forward and remain anonymous and not to have to have the burden or the worry that their loved ones will find out."

Meanwhile, Matt Schneidman of the New York Post provided a statement Rose made in a court filing about the allegations in May: "This is not a rape case. It's pure and simple extortion by a plaintiff who does not want anyone to be deposed because every lay witness in the case will shred plaintiff's story."

The Knicks are set to opening training camp this coming Tuesday. Their first preseason game is slated for Oct. 4 against the Houston Rockets, and they will open the regular season Oct. 25 with a nationally televised game against the reigning champion Cleveland Cavaliers.