Derrick Rose is happy to be in Minnesota with the Timberwolves, and he’s not afraid to take a jab at his former employer, the Chicago Bulls. Rose told Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

“This is the happiest I’ve been in a long time, coming in not worrying about the media like I did like I had to worry about in Chicago. Or dealing with the front office like I did in Chicago or just dealing with any problems… “I’m coming in worry free, focused on the game that night and that’s how it’s supposed to be.”

Perhaps a long fall from grace was exactly what Derrick Rose needed to revitalize his career. After injuries and internal strife derailed his career in Chicago, the former MVP had unsuccessful stops in New York with the Knicks and Cleveland with LeBron James and the Cavaliers.

His career looked like it was on its deathbed, but former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau and the Timberwolves gave Rose a new lease on life.

It’s no surprise that Rose feels vindicated after the headaches and injury struggles he endured. To be clear, much of the blame for what went wrong in Chicago, New York, and Cleveland falls on Rose’s shoulders. He’s far from perfect.

But we can all understand just how satisfying it must feel for Derrick Rose to prove his doubters wrong and shove his success back in Chicago’s face. Love him or hate him, it’s hard to deny the success Rose is having this season.