Derrick Rose, guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves, played with heavy tears in his eyes at the end of one of the most memorable NBA games ever. He played one of the best games of his long and storied career as he dropped a career-high 50 points and manned a 128-125 win against the Utah Jazz on Halloween night. But the feat went far beyond the stat line. It has been seven years since Rose earned the 2011 MVP award — the youngest ever crowned, at just 22 years old.

Rose’s MVP season with the Chicago Bulls left many in awe and anticipation for the budding career of the number one pick from Memphis University. But in the prime of his career– in the year following his MVP– Rose would tragically be sidelined because of an ACL tear; one that would change the course of not only his career, but his life as well.

He rehabbed and returned to the court the following year, only to have another setback with a meniscus injury that sidelined him for another year. I can remember this tragic series of events in vivid detail. Rose was a spark plug of energy for the Bulls with highlight dunks and dagger jump shots; Rose was unstoppable.

When the report of Rose’s injury became public, it was saddening to see an absolute star be in such a hopeless position. And if that didn’t hurt fans, it most certainly was a shot to the heart when Rose would fall again to injury in the following years. The man who was once feared by all as the leader of the Bulls, had become a what if story.

Not many 29 year olds with a history of four major knee surgeries are found in the NBA, but not most of them are a former league MVP.

After being bounced around the league,the Chicago native was desperate to find a place that would just give him a chance. Someone that looked to believe in him for one more go at redemption.

This year, Rose wears a Timberwolves jersey and serves as a veteran sixth-man. But Rose has shown himself to be anything but just another bench player.

The former MVP has set a new goal for himself: to be this season’s Sixth Man of the Year.

On his 50-point night, Rose was back to his MVP-self and his effort did not go unnoticed. Players from all over the NBA sent their congratulations and support. “Everything,” Rose said when asked what the game meant to him. “I worked my ass off, bro. … I played my heart out. My teammates told me before the game, just play my game. And tonight was a hell of a night.”

On Oct. 31, 2018, a Rose bloomed twice.