In Chicago, January 4, 2025 was all about Derrick Rose because the metropolis celebrated the previous Bulls level guard’s legacy throughout a halftime ceremony on the crew’s United Middle. However whereas it was heartwarming to observe everybody from former teammates to the broadcasters who referred to as his video games share their fondest recollections of Rose’s time with the crew, some of the touching moments of the night time got here courtesy of Rose’s oldest son, PJ.
Rose, who introduced his retirement from the NBA in September of 2024, obtained a heat welcome from followers who chanted, “MVP” as he entered the stadium. The Bulls and visiting New York Knicks additionally paid tribute to Rose, carrying t-shirts printed with the date 1.4.25 – a nod to the numbers the Chicago native wore whereas enjoying with the Bulls, the Knicks, and his highschool crew, Chicago’s Simeon Profession Academy. The crew additionally debuted the Derrick Rose Atrium Expertise on the United Middle, an exhibit which options memorabilia from his profession.
Nevertheless it was a video tribute to Rose that had everybody reaching for his or her tissues. The video, which featured a voice over from 12-year-old PJ, confirmed the star and his son visiting the United Middle and different particular locations round Chicago. Rose addressed the followers after the video and instructed a narrative a couple of joke the household shares.
“In the event that they see me missing on one thing, they are saying, ‘Dad, you wanna be good or nice?’” he stated as he checked out his son. “And that [makes] me keep in mind, I’m attempting to be nice. You hear me? Nice.”
The digicam then minimize to PJ, who was clearly touched by his dad’s feedback.
The Bulls group thanked Rose for his contributions to the crew and the town in a video posted to X on January 4, asserting that his no. 1 jersey can be retired.
“No person’s carrying that primary jersey once more, except PJ is a Bull,” Bulls president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf instructed Rose. “Then he’s carrying that primary jersey.”
Rose, who was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 2008 the place he performed till 2016, is just the fifth participant in franchise historical past to have his quantity retired. The unique membership contains Jerry Sloan’s no. 4, Bob Love’s no. 10, Michael Jordan’s no. 23, and Scottie Pippen’s no. 33. Throughout his time with the crew, Rose was named Rookie of the 12 months in 2009 and was named an All-Star for his first three seasons within the league. In 2011, he grew to become the youngest participant honored as Most Helpful Participant within the historical past of the NBA.