The cliche “what a difference a year makes” has never been more appropriate than it has been for Derrick Rose in 2019. But this time, it's the difference two years makes.

Rose was playing for the New York Knicks when on Jan. 9, 2017, he suddenly disappeared. He was at shoot-around that afternoon, but then he left before their game against the New Orleans Pelicans that night without so much as a peep, as Vivek Dadhania of Knicks Film School rehashes.

The team later announced that Rose went missing due to a “family situation,” which was true. Rose had flown home to Chicago to deal with a family matter, but because he did not notify the Knicks, he was fined $200,000. Rose then apologized to his teammates, the coaching staff and the front office.

It was the most bizarre moment in what was actually a decent season overall for Rose, as he averaged 18 points, 4.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds over 32.5 minutes per game. He shot 47.1 percent from the floor, 21.7 percent from three-point range and 87.4 percent from the free-throw line that year.

Sure, the lack of a three-point shot was frustrating, but the fact that Rose was actually making his shots at a decent clip was encouraging. However, the 2017-18 campaign was not as kind to Rose, as he played in just 25 games between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves, registering 8.4 points per game.

Then the 2018-19 season came around, and Rose has experienced a renaissance. Thus far this season, the 30-year-old is posting 18.9 points, 4.8 assists and 2.8 boards a night while making 48.6 percent of his shots, 46.2 percent of his three-pointers, and 83.8 percent of his foul shots.