CHICAGO — “MVP” chants bounced off the walls inside a sold-out United Center, but they weren’t for any of the current Chicago Bulls players or the visiting New York Knicks. Fans were on their feet when Bulls legend and Chicago native Derrick Rose emerged from the home tunnel at halftime of the Bulls’ 139-126 victory over the Knicks on Saturday night.
Rose has emerged from that tunnel 447 times in a Bulls jersey, but on Saturday he donned a black and red pinstripe suit when he walked onto the court for Derrick Rose Night. Rose formally announced his retirement before the start of the season, and the Bulls wasted no time in honoring the city’s favorite son, who was Chicago’s first overall pick in 2008 and played seven seasons with the team.
Several of Rose’s former teammates were present at the night’s festivities, including Joakim Noah and Luol Deng, as well as his college coach John Calipari. Noah gave an impassioned speech at halftime in Rose’s honor, bringing the Chicago native to tears as Noah led what was one of many “MVP” chants of the night.
“You’re not just the MVP, you’re the people’s champion,” Noah said of Rose, who became the youngest MVP in NBA story at the age of 22.
Earlier in the day, the Bulls announced that the team would retire Rose’s No. 1 jersey next season, something he said he hasn’t processed yet but will certainly do at a later date.
“[Tonight] It’s about giving everyone in this room, everyone who was part of the story, the journey, the good, the bad and the ugly. “It’s a celebration for everyone,” Rose said.
As the Bulls presented Rose with flowers, both literally and metaphorically, for what he meant to the franchise, he in turn thanked the city. In the days leading up to Rose’s celebration, the Chicago native could be seen crisscrossing the city hosting a pop-up flower shop, playing at his alma mater Simeon Career Academy alongside his son in a pick-up game, and opening a community garden in the neighborhood of his childhood. of Englewood.
“I understand, coming from Chicago, that it’s tough love, you know, I mean, it’s a lot of tough love,” Rose said. “I was telling my friends that sometimes you can forget about love and just show toughness. Coming back, when I was raised with that tough love, I just wanted to show love. There’s toughness too, but it doesn’t have to be tough all the time. “.
Hosting “Derrick Rose Night” when the Knicks were in town was planned precisely so that the guy who coached Rose more than anyone else in his career, current Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, could be there. It also worked because Rose played four seasons in two different stints with the Knicks. So naturally, both Bulls and Knicks players wore special shooting jerseys that had “1.4.25” written across the chest to denote Rose’s three jersey numbers for the Bulls, Knicks and Simeon. It also turned out that the exact date the Bulls would honor Rose, which has now been officially considered Derrick Rose day in Chicago.
Here’s a look at Saturday night’s full halftime ceremony.
“He’s probably the most beloved player in the league by everyone,” Thibodeau said. “We’re thrilled he’s being honored. I always say the true measure of a man is how he handles adversity. And no one did it better. He never stayed down. He always found a way to rise and I’m excited for him, for the race that he had. I think he’s a Hall of Famer. I have no doubt he’s a Hall of Fame player.”
During the halftime celebration, Rose spoke to fans for nearly three minutes. He reflected on the expectations that followed him since he was in sixth grade and touched on the many ups and downs of his career before once again honoring his hometown.
“Thank you, Chicago,” he said. “For forcing me to be great.”
