Former NBA player and current University of Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway knows first-hand what Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Derrick Rose has been through.
In his early days with the Orlando Magic, Hardaway was a superstar and transcendent talent. He made the All-Star team four times and averaged at least 20 points per game three seasons in a row. Hardaway was destined for greatness and primed to be one of the best players in NBA history.
Unfortunately, the injury bug started to haunt Penny Hardaway, who like Derrick Rose, dealt with multiple injuries that robbed him of his prime.
The now 47-year-old understands what it takes, both mentally and physically, to rehab multiple injuries and not give up on your dream to keep playing. That's why Hardaway was so happy to see Rose score a career-high 50 points Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz.
Via Joshua A. Vinson of The Daily Helmsman:
Penny Hardaway on Derrick Rose:
“It meant a lot to me more so than him being a former Tiger but because he went through the same knee injuries that I’ve gone through” pic.twitter.com/4rTJzS0JQt
— Joshua Alfonzo Vinson (@TheJoshAVinson) November 1, 2018
Derrick Rose is the youngest player to ever win the MVP award. Before injuries took a toll on his body, he was the most explosive point guard in NBA history. The Chicago native has suffered four knee injuries and an orbital fracture. Many players would have retired a long time ago, but Rose keeps getting back up and playing the game that he loves. He's an inspiration to people who are going through tough times to never give up.
Derrick Rose played 41 minutes and finished with 50 points while shooting 19-of-31 from the field, 4-of-7 from beyond the arc and 8-of-11 from the free-throw line. He also dished out six assists, grabbed four rebounds and had the game-winning block on Jazz guard Dante Exum at the end of regulation.
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