Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Robert Covington told reporters on Friday that he “always knew” Derrick Rose could get back to playing at a high level. Covington, a Chicago native, grew up watching Rose in the Windy City.
Robert Covington on Derrick Rose: "Being a kid from Chicago, I watched Derrick grow up years before me. I definitely knew that he could definitely get back to that mindset and play to this level. I always knew."
— Ashish Mathur (@amathur25) December 8, 2018
Entering Saturday, Rose is averaging 18.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting a career-high 50.0 percent from the field, 47.5 percent from beyond the arc and 83.6 percent from the free-throw line. The 30-year-old scored 50 points against the Utah Jazz on Halloween, a performance the entire NBA reacted to given what Rose has been through with injuries.
Covington also made an interesting point about how the Timberwolves' winning ways have led to players on the team getting the recognition they deserve.
During the 2016-17 season, Rose averaged 18.0 points per game for the New York Knicks but the team didn't make the playoffs and finished with a 31-51 record. Though Rose was recognized by some for what would have been a good season for many other players, there were plenty of other media, analysts and fans who resisted acknowledging the full breadth of Rose's production.
Conversely, since the Timberwolves acquired Covington from the Philadelphia 76ers, the club is 9-3.
Covington is averaging 14.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 12 games with Minnesota and shooting 44.6 percent from the floor, 39.2 percent from the 3-point line and 82.8 percent from the charity stripe. With Rose giving the Timberwolves instant offense off the bench and Covington being an elite three-and-D wing, the Timberwolves are looking like a team which can make some noise in the Western Conference.
Both the team and the players should get the respect they deserve then.
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