When you talk to Detroit Pistons point guard Derrick Rose before or after games, you’ll notice that he’s always carrying around a green medicine ball. That ball is very important to the former MVP, as it’s helped him become a better perimeter shooter.

Rose holds onto that ball with his life now. Back when he was with the Chicago Bulls, Rose used to work on his shooting mechanics with former assistant coach Ron Adams. The two used to spend hours and hours in the gym trying to get more arc on Rose’s shot and it appears all that work is starting to pay off.

Last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Rose shot a career-high 37.0 percent from beyond the arc. This season with the Pistons, D-Rose is shooting 33.3 percent. The Chicago native spoke with James L. Edwards III of The Athletic about his precious ball:

“I got a joke that it’s like my Wilson from ‘Cast Away,'” Rose told The Athletic. “If I didn’t have that ball, I wouldn’t be in the league right now. It’s one of a kind. It helped make my shot one motion. I use it when I dribble. It helps me build up my arm strength, form.”

Rose actually stole this ball from the Bulls and has kept it ever since. He's averaging 15.9 points and 5.8 assists with the Pistons this season while shooting 49.1 percent from the field.