Quietly, Derrick Rose has been having a solid year for the Timberwolves. Forced into a larger role (28 minutes a night) he has averaged 14.3 points a game and 4.9 assists per game, and while he is still not an efficient shooter (and has the team’s highest usage rate, not an ideal combination) he’s been good enough to make defenses respect him. It’s been a nice comeback.
It was just the start — Wednesday night he exploded for a career-high 50 points against Utah, including the go-ahead bucket with :30 seconds left and a couple of free throws later to seal the win. It was Rose looking like he did before one ACL and two meniscus surgeries robbed him of his MVP game.
He was phenomenal. He was vintage Derrick Rose.
Highlights from @drose's FIFTY-POINT night ⬇️ https://t.co/x060Vbl3oM
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) November 1, 2018
After the game, Rose was emotional talking about all the work it took to get back — a lot of guys would have walked away from the game. He didn’t.
"[it means] everything, man. I work my ass off." @drose discusses the historic night with @fsnorth https://t.co/Y9u3DCUDSk
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) November 1, 2018
His teammates understood what it meant and treated him as such.
family.
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) November 1, 2018
(📹 via @Teague0) https://t.co/JAxQkJH8hj
It’s just good to see — Rose has always been quiet, a guy who wasn’t afraid of the work and the long road back. Seeing that pay off is what sports is about.
