He showed up on the floor of the United Center with a rose in his hand, of course. Derrick Rose was the common thread of an evening which, on a sporting level, ended with a great victory for the Bulls over the Knicks. At halftime of this meeting, the local fans were able to delve into the memories of the last glorious era of the franchise.
Years when the youngest MVP in history (2011) thrilled a city – his own – and the entire basketball world. A sort of “ Halley's comet » as commentator Stacey King describes it, drawing a parallel with his former teammate Michael Jordan, with whom he won the franchise's first treble.
“The People’s Champion”
Derrick Rose, for his part, will never have gone beyond the conference final. But his seven seasons in Chicago, despite numerous injuries and therefore frustration, left an indelible mark. The former playmaker saw this ceremony as a means of thank everyone who has been a part of this story, this journey, the good, the bad, the ugly, it's about celebrating everyone “.
Present in the center of the floor alongside Stacey King and the other commentator Neil Funk, Joakim Noah was an integral part of this “D-Rose” epic in Chicago. Energetic and intimate, his speech will bring tears to his former teammate.
“ Hope is a powerful emotion. You give it to people every day. You gave it to your teammates because we knew we had the best player on the field every night. You gave the fans hope because they knew they were watching the most exciting player absolutely every night “, blurted out the Frenchman, adding: “ You're not just the MVP, you're the people's champion. »
Coach of the opposing team of the evening, and above all traveling companion of Derrick Rose in Chicago, but also in Minnesota and New York, Tom Thibodeau can attest to the love rating of his former player.
A Hall of Famer for Tom Thibodeau
“ He is probably the most loved player in the league by everyone. I always say the true measure of a man is how he handles adversity. And no one did it better than him. He never let himself get discouraged. He always found a way to get back up and I'm delighted for him, for the career he's had. There is no doubt in my mind that he is a Hall of Famer », assures the technician who remembers the “ fear » and “ respect » that he generated on the adversaries.
Time will tell if his former champion will see the doors of the Pantheon open for him. In the meantime, he will have the honor of seeing his jersey retired next season. He will be only the 5th player in franchise history so honored, after Jerry Sloan (4), Bob Love (10), Michael Jordan (23) and Scottie Pippen (33).
“ Thank you Chicago for forcing me to be big, for placing these expectations on me, not realizing that I was also trying to be big this whole time, and that I didn't know the environment I was in and who forced me to do it. Thanks to everyone who has followed me since (college), during injuries, an MVP, defeats or victories in the playoffs, thank you », blurts the former MVP, who aims for the same excellence for his son PJ, as he leaves the stage.
| Derrick Rose | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2008-09 | CHI | 81 | 37 | 47.5 | 22.2 | 78.8 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 3.9 | 6.3 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 16.8 |
| 2009-10 | CHI | 78 | 37 | 48.9 | 26.7 | 76.6 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 6.0 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 20.8 |
| 2010-11 ★ | CHI | 81 | 37 | 44.5 | 33.2 | 85.8 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 4.1 | 7.7 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 25.0 |
| 2011-12 | CHI | 39 | 35 | 43.5 | 31.2 | 81.2 | 0.7 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 7.9 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 21.9 |
| 2013-14 | CHI | 10 | 31 | 35.4 | 34.0 | 84.4 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 0.1 | 15.9 |
| 2014-15 | CHI | 51 | 30 | 40.5 | 28.0 | 81.3 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 3.2 | 0.3 | 17.7 |
| 2015-16 | CHI | 66 | 32 | 42.7 | 29.3 | 79.3 | 0.7 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 4.7 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 16.4 |
| 2016-17 | NYK | 64 | 33 | 47.1 | 21.7 | 87.4 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 18.0 |
| 2017-18 * | All Teams | 25 | 17 | 43.5 | 23.3 | 87.0 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 8.4 |
| 2017-18 * | KEY | 16 | 19 | 43.9 | 25.0 | 85.4 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 9.8 |
| 2017-18 * | MIN | 9 | 12 | 42.6 | 16.7 | 100.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 5.8 |
| 2018-19 | MIN | 51 | 27 | 48.2 | 37.0 | 85.6 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 18.0 |
| 2019-20 | DET | 50 | 26 | 49.0 | 30.6 | 87.1 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 5.6 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 18.1 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 50 | 26 | 47.0 | 38.8 | 86.6 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 14.7 |
| 2020-21 * | NYK | 35 | 27 | 48.7 | 41.1 | 88.3 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 14.9 |
| 2020-21 * | DET | 15 | 23 | 42.9 | 33.3 | 84.0 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 4.2 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 14.2 |
| 2021-22 | NYK | 26 | 25 | 44.5 | 40.2 | 96.8 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 12.0 |
| 2022-23 | NYK | 27 | 13 | 38.4 | 30.2 | 91.7 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 5.6 |
| 2023-24 | M.E.M. | 24 | 17 | 46.1 | 36.6 | 88.9 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 8.0 |
| Total | 723 | 31 | 45.6 | 31.6 | 83.1 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 5.2 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 17.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
