LeBron James described his former teammate and now Minnesota Timberwolves guard Derrick Rose as a “misunderstood” individual, claiming all that “he just wants to play ball and be with his son,” according to Dane Moore of 1500 ESPN.

Rose was the lone player standing between LeBron James and four straight MVP seasons, and despite only sharing 16 games together in the same jersey, the two have gotten to know each other well enough over the years to make an honest assessment of one another.

There seem to be only two types of Derrick Rose observers — those who are patiently waiting for him to regain his MVP form in true Tiger Woods comeback style and those who think his best days are well behind him.

Rose’s career was derailed by a series of knee injuries that have left him a shadow of the explosive player he once was with the Chicago Bulls.

Following his exit from The Windy City, his heart, his mettle and his motivation have been often questioned through the last few seasons, considering his quirky habits of missing practice without notice and prioritizing his family life over his job.

Derrick Rose reportedly questioned leaving the game of basketball altogether after dealing with an injury early in the season as a member of the Cavaliers in 2017, but ultimately returned, only to be part of a three-team trade and get waived by the Utah Jazz, ultimately signed by the Timberwolves.

So far, Rose has provided a valuable contribution, back in his comfort zone alongside coach Tom Thibodeau, putting up 14.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists under a reserve role.