New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose has one of the most interesting narratives in all of sports. After seemingly falling off the radar after a series of injuries, Rose has successfully come back as a trusted veteran guard in the NBA. In a recent revelation, Rose pointed out that his first stint with the Knicks was responsible for altering the course of his career.

Rose first donned the Knicks jersey in the 2016-17 NBA season after a colorful eight-year stint with the Chicago Bulls. Rose joined Carmelo Anthony and a young Kristaps Porzingis who were seen as the main offensive gunners of the squad. D-Rose told Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic that being the third option was actually a blessing in disguise.

“I think I’m doing a decent job. Look at the fact that when I came here the first time with Melo and KP that I was the third option, and I think that helped me, helped my game, helped me figure out how can I still affect the game being the third option. That was the first time in my career that I was put in that position. I think I did a decent job. That carried on to me going to different teams and just playing my game and finding ways to affect the game in different ways.”

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After playing just 64 games for the Knicks, Rose jumped to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Detroit Pistons. He played a smaller role off the bench for those teams, and among those who saw the intangibles that he brought is none other than his former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, who got reunited with the former MVP with the Timberwolves.

Now, Derrick Rose is back with the Knicks and Thibodeau, helping the young team return to the NBA Playoffs after a series of empty stints.