1.7%. That was the probability the Chicago Bulls had to move up from the 11th pick to number one overall in the 2008 NBA draft.
It was probably less likely that a kid from Chicago would go on to win the 2008 Rookie of the Year award and become the youngest MVP in league history. Yet that is exactly what he did—and captivated not only the entire city but the nation along the way. Here’s the story of how a kid from Chicago became a legend, inspiring a whole new generation of Chicago fans through his work ethic, humility, and jaw-dropping athleticism.
Greatness from the jump
From his very first moments in the league, Derrick Rose flashed how special he is.
In his rookie year, he helped turn around a team coming off a losing season in which they missed the playoffs and fired their coach. On top of winning the Rookie of the Year award, Rose dazzled with arguably the greatest playoff debut that we have ever seen against the defending champion Boston Celtics. This first taste of postseason action was just a precursor of amazing moments that would fill the 16-year career of the Windy City Assassin. In his second year, he would go on to earn his first All-Star nod while leading his team back to the playoffs.
Too big, too strong, too fast, too good
Rose’s third year is when his stardom shot into the stratosphere.
Not only did he lead the Bulls to their first 60+ win season since the Michael Jordan era, but would do something awe-inspiring on a nightly basis. From his lightning-quick dribble moves to thunderous dunks, Rose inspired and even earned an endorsement from his Airness.
This proved to be foreshadowing as Rose went on to become the youngest MVP in league history at 22 years old. He led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference Finals and gave Chicago the belief that they could win their first title since the 90’s dynasty.
What could have been
Before the new Bulls dynasty could get off the ground, Rose suffered the first of what would become a laundry list of injuries that altered the trajectory of his career.
It was April 28th, 2012, with game 1 of their first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers well in hand. On a play that Rose had made hundreds of times in his career, Rose went down holding his knee. The entire city of Chicago collectively held its breath.
For a player whose game was so reliant on explosion and athleticism, fans and doctors alike suspected that a torn ACL could be devastating. Despite ferocious rehab efforts, he was never the same.
Over the next several years Rose would suffer from more injuries ranging from orbital bone breaks to meniscus tears. All this led to the Bulls parting ways with their chosen son in the summer of 2016. This ended his tenure with his hometown team and gave Chicago sports its greatest what-if since MJ retired the first time.
Chicago’s favorite son
Derrick Rose’s career will always be considered for what could have been.
For the first few years of his career, however, he was able to catch lightning in a bottle and ignite an entire city. While he never was able to reclaim his pre-injury form, his popularity in Chicago and across the league did not waver. From turning the United Center into the “madhouse on Madison” to becoming the eighth player in league history to get ten signature shoes, Rose’s unquestionable work ethic and love for the game earned him ubiquitous respect from fans well beyond his years of superstardom. It’s because of this peak that there will be a groundswell of support to make Rose’s #1 the first number to be retired by the organization since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
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