Derrick Rose jersey retirement: 9 dates that define the Bulls great's iconic career

CHICAGO — On Saturday, Derrick Rose will reach a new level of distinction in Chicago.

The retired point guard doesn’t need any introduction. He’s a former NBA MVP, a kid raised on Simeon hoops who elevated a new era for the Bulls. And this weekend, his jersey will be added to the rafters alongside the likes of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, memorializing one of the most pivotal players in Chicago basketball history.

This is a moment built on nostalgia, so let’s take a moment to reflect. Here are nine dates that defined Rose’s career.

March 18, 2006: Simeon’s finest

Rose became a Chicago legend long before he made it to the league. A South Side standout with Simeon, Rose in 2006 led the Wolverines to their first state championship since 1984. The junior guard knocked down a game-winner with 1.6 seconds remaining to clinch the long-awaited title.

Simeon went on to win a second straight state championship in Rose’s senior year, becoming the first Chicago Public League school to win back-to-back state titles in the process.

June 26, 2008: The No. 1 pick

Pundits and professionals spent months pondering and debating who the Bulls would select with the No. 1 pick in the 2008 draft. But in the end, there was only ever one option — Chicago’s own.

Then-general manager John Paxson made the decision official on draft night, selecting Rose with the top pick. The Bulls had worked out only one other player — Michael Beasley — during the predraft process. In the end, Paxson said the decision was unanimous throughout the front office.

April 22, 2009: The rookie

From the moment he arrived in Chicago, Rose lit up the league. He was the first Bulls player since Michael Jordan to average 10 points or more in his first 10 games, ultimately averaging 16.8 points and 6.3 assists while shooting 47.5% from the floor. He received 111 first-place selections from 120 voters, easily outpacing O.J. Mayo and Brook Lopez for the Rookie of the Year Award.

Rose went on to score 36 points in his postseason debut against the Boston Celtics. The Bulls couldn’t make it out of the seven-game series, but Rose’s rookie showing proved the Bulls had a strong chance of contending in the future.

Jan. 22, 2010: The Dragić dunk

Even as a youngster, Rose was a highlight machine. But one piece of live commentary from Bulls TV analyst Stacey King captured an indelible memory from his second season in Chicago that will live on forever: “What are you doing, Dragić? Did you not get the memo? Derrick Rose can go upstairs!”

Those words accompanied perhaps the most ruthless dunk of Rose’s career. The guard got a running start in transition, launched himself toward the sky as if aided by a hidden trampoline and ratcheted his body into a convex contortion to pound the ball down over the head of unwitting Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragić.

Rose dunked the ball many times before and after this moment. It’s impossible to pick the best or most important iteration of his favorite move. But this one stands out — a memory of a man who could defy gravity, at least for a second at a time.

May 3, 2011: The youngest MVP in NBA history

Ahead of his third season with the Bulls, Rose posed a question: “Why can’t I be the MVP of the league?”

Months later, he provided his own answer. Rose was named the 2011 MVP. Only eight other first-place votes were cast for another player. The distinction came after a statement season in which Rose averaged 25 points and 7.7 assists per game. He beat out fellow stars Dwight Howard, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant for the honor.

At only 22, Rose became the youngest player to receive the MVP trophy in NBA history.

April 28, 2012: The injury

Rose brought many highs to Chicago. But in April 2012, the city suffered a bitter loss — the first in a series of knee injuries that ultimately diminished the guard’s promising career.

In the final 90 seconds of Game 1 of a first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Rose tore his ACL while attempting to drive to the rim with his patented high-flying jump stop. The injury derailed a promising postseason for the Bulls, who had dominated the Eastern Conference in the regular season before bowing out of the first round without Rose on the roster.

May 8, 2015: The shot, the stare-down

The 2012 playoffs marked a new chapter for Rose, who ultimately suffered four major knee injuries — the ACL tear followed by three meniscus tears — over the course of his career. He missed the entire ensuing season and played only 10 games in 2013-14.

But in 2015, Rose averaged 17.7 points while working back into the regular rotation. He breathed life back into the Bulls by leading them to the Eastern Conference semifinals for a rematch with their familiar foes, James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Bulls ultimately couldn’t overcome the Cavaliers. But in Game 3, Rose reminded the city of his ability to command the clutch, peeling around the perimeter to beat the buzzer with a deep 3-pointer. Joakim Noah carried Rose off the court as he mugged the camera with a stone-cold expression, a lasting image of his final years with the team.

Oct. 31, 2018: 'This means everything, man.'

After a series of knee injuries ended his time in Chicago on a bittersweet note, Rose never could fully return to his former glory. He transformed into a consistent role player as a journeyman across the league, bouncing from New York to Cleveland to Minnesota. And every now again, those superpowers returned in a flash.

That’s what happened on Halloween night in 2018. Rose stunned the Utah Jazz with the highest scoring game of his career, dropping 50 points and blocking the final shot of the game to secure a 128-125 win for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Fans throughout Target Center chanted “MVP” as Rose held back tears in his postgame interview.

“I worked my ass off,” Rose said. “Words can’t describe how I feel right now. It’s been a while, bro,”

Sept. 26, 2024: The end

Rose officially announced his retirement after 15 seasons in the NBA. He played for six teams, including seven with the Bulls and four with the New York Knicks. He earned three All-Star selections and won gold with Team USA at the 2010 and 2014 FIBA World Cups. He remains the youngest MVP in NBA history.