What a difference one year makes.
With the Cleveland Cavaliers, the situation was bleak for a then-struggling Derrick Rose.
After being rejected in New York, the PG went to Cleveland hoping for a fresh start. Alongside LeBron James, that wasn’t necessarily out of the question.
Quickly though, the situation there fell apart as well, and Rose was left with a minimal role on the drama-laden team. With a 9.8 scoring average on 43% shooting, it didn’t look like there was much reason to give him a larger role, either.
There were even reports that the former MVP was considering calling it quits, going so far as to step away from the team to re-evaluate his future.
Then, at the deadline, he was traded to the Jazz for Rodney Hood and was abruptly released by them shortly thereafter.
Nobody really expected Rose to play again after that, much less perform at an All-Star level.
Strangely enough, we were all wrong.
D-Rose has had a bit of a resurgence in Minnesota, averaging 19.4 points per game, his highest mark since 2012, and scoring his career high 50 points this past Halloween night. Off the bench, he’s providing a key spark, putting himself in the conversation for Sixth Man Of The Year.
It’s been a remarkable story.
“He’s got a nice groove and I think everything off the court with him is just like — peace. I see him at peace all the time.” said teammate Jeff Teague in a recent post-game interview.
“When you’re injury-free and have peace, I think good things happen.”
True, we’ll probably never see MVP Rose again. Those days are over.
But what he has been able to do so far this season, after everything he’s been through, might just be his greatest career accomplishment yet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV09ywqrSfY
