Hypotheticals and what ifs are always a fun thing to think about and debate when it comes to the NBA, or just sports in general. What if this team drafted this player instead of the one they actually selected? Or what if a team pulled the trigger on a potential deal to acquire a high-profile player? Or what if a particular player didn’t suffer so many injuries throughout their career?
The last of those what if questions are thought about by many when it pertains to Derrick Rose. Very few in NBA history were as explosive as Rose was when he first entered the league. Unfortunately, Rose experienced a multitude of injuries throughout his career. Those injuries sapped him of some of his athleticism. While still productive, he clearly wasn’t the player he was earlier in his career.
On September 26, the 35-year-old Rose (turns 36 on October 4) announced his retirement from basketball. The first overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft played 15 seasons in the league for six teams in the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and Memphis Grizzlies. The team in which he had the most success will have a day to honor him in the upcoming season.
Bulls Legend To Be Honored By Team On January 4
Derrick Rose Will Be Honored By Chicago In Upcoming Season
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Derrick Rose will be honored by the Bulls on January 4. On that day, they will be playing the Knicks. Charania revealed this information on The Pat MacAfee Show. There hasn’t been any word yet as to whether there will be a jersey retirement on that day (or at a future date).
Rose spent the first seven seasons of his career donning the Chicago jersey (not including 2012-13 when he missed the entire season). He received the ultimate individual honor in the 2010-11 season when he named the league’s MVP. That season, Rose posted averages of 25.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.7 assists. Rose was also named Rookie of the Year in 2008-09 and was named to three straight All-Star Games from 2010 to 2012.
After that MVP season, Rose would never play more than 66 games in any other season. He had many major injuries to both knees including a torn ACL which sidelined him for all of 2012-13. Rose appeared in just 10 games in the following season.
In 406 career regular season games for the Bulls, Rose averaged 19.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. In his MVP season, Chicago won 62 games and reached the Eastern Conference Finals. There were two other seasons where Rose was around in which the Bulls won at least 50 games.
Impressive His Career Lasted As Long As It Did
While it’s sad that Rose couldn’t maintain his peak for a long time due to injuries, it’s still impressive that his career lasted as long as it did. Many would have quit much earlier, but Rose continued to rehab to get back onto the court. Later in his career, he became a spark plug off the bench that finished in the top seven in Sixth Man of the Year voting three times.
Expect a raucous Chicago crowd to give Rose the love and adoration that he deserves on the January 4 game that he will be honored.
