Ranking the five best Chicago Bulls players of the decade

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) and Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13), after Rose was fouled, during the first half on Monday, Feb. 23, 2015, at the United Center in Chicago. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images)
Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) and Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13), after Rose was fouled, during the first half on Monday, Feb. 23, 2015, at the United Center in Chicago. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images)
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(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

1. Derrick Rose

Who else could’ve been No.1? The best Bull of this decade is Derrick Rose, and it’s not even close. What he did for basketball during his Chicago days hadn’t been done since Michael Jordan, and it hasn’t been done since.

He gave the city and its die-hard fans hope.

Forget all the injuries. The hate surrounding Rose’s injury-riddled past is tiresome. It’s not his fault his body couldn’t hold up.

During his time in Chicago, Rose averaged 19.7 points, 6.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 35 minutes per game. Those numbers are good (like, really good), but it’s his famous 2010-2011 season that makes him the best Bull of the decade.

When the 2010-11 season started, Rose was coming off a phenomenal sophomore season where he averaged over 20 points and six assists per game and got his first All-Star nod. He didn’t settle there, though. Rose shattered the NBA in 2010-11, averaging 25 points, 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game while on his way to becoming the youngest MVP in league history. That’s a heck of a feat.

Yes, it’s devastating to think about what could’ve been had Derrick Rose never suffered any major injuries, but none of those injuries change the fact that D-Rose is the best Bull of the decade.