Point guard: Derrick Rose (2008-2016)
19.7 PPG, 6.2 APG, 3.7 RPG, 31.4 WS, 18.3 PER
The only MVP honoree from the Chicago Bulls to win the award over the course of the last decade is D-Rose. The fond memories of D-Rose will continue to illuminate the United Center as the Bulls fall on hard times at the point guard position, and in the Eastern Conference standings in general. There was only one season where D-Rose was with the Bulls that they even missed the playoffs.
However, the tenure for D-Rose in the early 2010’s with the Bulls were about as good as any individual player with any NBA team. He was a three-time All-Star selection (all with the Bulls in the early 2010’s), All-NBA First Team honoree, and he was the Rookie of the Year after the 2008-09 season. But the Rookie of the Year honors don’t really count toward this decade.
D-Rose had an offensive box plus/minus rating of 2.2 in his time with the Bulls and 17.9 of his 31.4 win shares came offensively. The defensive game wasn’t as good as he was on offense, but he was still a capable two-way point guard.
More than anything, the highlight reel that D-Rose gave Bulls fans early in his NBA career is something that is hard to match. He has to be the most talented players for the Bulls in the post-Michael Jordan-era. It’s just a shame that he couldn’t stay healthier.
It is likely that the Bulls will not have a legendary talent, that is also a hometown kid, like D-Rose fall into their lap with a lucky draft lottery placement in the near future. The Bulls saw the law of averages catch up with them in the last three draft lotteries, where they dropped down in the order to the seventh overall pick three years in a row.