💪 😤 Minnesota Timberwolves Derrick Rose Shows That Hard Work Pays Off
It seemed like ages ago that Derrick Rose was league MVP and that's because it was. The 2010-2011 MVP missed most of the next two seasons following an ACL injury. Playing well in 2014-2015 and 2015-2016, Rose continued to be plagued with knee and ankle issues. It got so bad for Rose that he questioned whether or not to continue playing, with the ultimate low last season averaging just 8.4 points in 16.8 minutes per game.
However, despite the low production output with the Timberwolves, who signed Rose late last season, he never gave up hope or faith in himself. The hard work paid off on Wednesday in his first start of the season. Rose was back to MVP form, if just for one night, scoring a career-high 50 points in a three-point victory.
The 50 point explosion was the fourth most scored by a player in the NBA this season and it came against the Jazz, who released him after acquired in a multi-team trade last season. If fact, while never playing for the Jazz, Rose's future was in doubt until the Timberwolves signed him a month later.
Certainly his point production was astounding, but Rose also helped secure the win on the defensive end, blocking a three-point field goal try in the waning moments by Dante Exum.
Although just a small sample, Rose's big game vaulted his stats for the season to 18.8 points per contest, which is his highest since averaging 21.8 in 2011-2012, which was his last All-Star appearance and final season before the knee injury.
Players around the league admired Roses's effort, while his coach Tom Thibodeau notes Roses's grit, determination and mental fortitude.
“He has courage, he has humility and he has character,” Thibodeau, who also coached Rose during his prime seasons in Chicago, told ESPN, “He’s been through a lot of adversity. He’s maybe one of the most mentally tough people I’ve ever come across.”
It remains to be seen how Rose's play on Wednesday carries over moving forward. Will he get back to his MVP days on a regular basis? Perhaps that is too much to ask, but certainly Rose has proven his ability to be a significant contributor, so don't put it past the three-time All-Star to climb back to the top of the NBA stat ranks.
