OKLAHOMA CITY -- Chicago Bulls forward Carlos Boozer will have his cast removed next week and will begin the rehabilitation process soon after.
Boozer, who will travel with the team while he's out, admitted that it is going to be difficult for him to sit on the bench during Wednesday night's season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"It's going to be tough to have to watch [Wednesday night]," he said. "Not to be able to be out there celebrating with my teammates as they play against Oklahoma. But like I said, I'll be out there cheering my teammates on, being a good assistant coach and a good teammate and a good cheerleader. But it's going to be very tough not to be able to put my jersey on."
Boozer, who signed a five-year deal with the Bulls this summer, says he has a target date in his mind about when he would like to be back on the floor, but he didn't want to disclose it to the media.
Nick Friedell covers the Bulls for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN 1000.