Derrick Rose has been cemented as a Chicago legend for a long time, but the Bulls will make it official in January of 2026 when they retire his jersey. The announcement spurred a lot of reactions from former players, but perhaps none more telling than that of former teammate Joakim Noah. Talking to journalist Landon Buford, Noah details the significance of Rose’s jersey retirement for an important era of Bulls basketball.
Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah: Pillars of a great Bulls team
Rose’s NBA career, especially his time on the Bulls, speaks for itself. He became the youngest MVP in league history at just 22 years of age when he won the trophy in 2011. That season, he averaged 25.0 points and 7.7 assists per game while leading the Bulls to the first seed in the East (and entire NBA) with a 62-20 record. The Bulls made it to the Eastern Conference finals before losing in six to a Heat team led by a prime LeBron James.
Rose’s career was sadly derailed by injuries shortly afterwards, and his ACL tear in the first round of the 2012 playoffs changed everything. Still, the Bulls stayed relevant for several years due to Rose’s persistence in battling injuries and the emergence of other players on the team. One of those players was Noah, who went on to win the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2014 and finish fourth in MVP voting as well. Noah was the embodiment of toughness and anchored the Bulls' defense to some of the NBA’s top marks for several years.
If it hadn’t been for Rose’s injury woes, the Bulls could have found themselves contending with the Miami Heat at the peak of their Big 3 era. What should have been a championship contender turned into a regular playoff flameout as Rose struggled to ever return to his MVP form.
Still, Bulls fans fondly remember this time and the hope that Derrick Rose gave them. Now, Joakim Noah echoes that sentiment and gives Rose his flowers. He told Buford that Rose’s jersey retirement “is our championship” and reiterated how much he looks forward to celebrating “one of [his] favorite teammates ever”.
Rose will always hold a special place in Chicago’s heart as a hometown hero who inexplicably landed in the Bulls’ lap. He grew up in Chicago and played high school basketball there before attending the University of Memphis, where he was the first overall draft pick.
Bringing a historic MVP back to the city was just further icing on the cake, and he became a legend with his play, even without a championship. Rose’s jersey retirement may be the highlight of the Bulls' season, and his former teammates are eager to see him get the love that he deserves.