Former All-Star guard Derrick Rose is about to embark on his first season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, which has opened the door to him to an entirely different environment around a championship contending team.

This has all led the 28-year-old to voice some glowing praise toward the organization and team’s mentality heading into the 2017-18 campaign, according to Nikki Goel of Cavs Nation.

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“I’ve been preparing myself for this situation, this stage for a long time, preparing my body, preparing myself mentally, spiritually – trying to be well-rounded for this stage, for this journey. Being here with the guys, I feel like I’m in a great situation. Everybody is focused, I love the staff, I love the front office and I love Cleveland.”

Rose has an opportunity in front of him to etch out a significant role with the Cavaliers as one of the primary offensive contributors. He will likely assume the starting point guard role for the first few months until All-Star point Isaiah Thomas is able to return from his hip injury.

Even when Thomas returns, he will then take up the sixth man role as the lead guard and main ball handler for the second unit. If he’s able to remain healthy, it could bode extremely well for the Cavaliers to have another proven player off the bench to better their chances of reaching the NBA Finals for a fourth straight year.

It is also a chance for Rose to show his worth that he’s deserving a lucrative deal next summer when he hits the free agent market.