Derrick Rose, Tom Thibodeau
Saturday night delivered one of the most emotional moments in Chicago Bulls history as Derrick Rose became just the fifth player to have his jersey retired by the franchise. The ceremony carried added weight because Rose became the first Chicago native to receive the honor, cementing his place in the city’s sports legacy.
As Rose reflected on the journey that led to his No. 1 rising into the rafters, he used the stage to directly confront a long-standing narrative tied to his career, per Fadeaway World. That belief centers on his relationship with former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, a figure often linked to Rose’s devastating injuries. On this night, Rose left no room for interpretation about where he stands.
Rose Pushes Back on Injury Narrative
Rose acknowledged the context around his career without letting it define the people involved. Injuries altered his trajectory, but he made it clear they were not the result of recklessness or mismanagement. His ACL tear came on a familiar basketball play, one he had executed countless times. More importantly, Rose emphasized that he never blamed Thibodeau then and refused to do so now.
“They look at Thibs as the injury part, but I’m here to say f**k that,” Rose said during the ceremony. “There’s a reason why, everything is meant to be bro. Thibs was the first coach who made me feel special when we used to watch film. I used to do sh*t in games just to make sure he saw me on tape.”
Those words cut directly against years of public debate. For Rose, the demanding style that defined Thibodeau’s system did not create resentment. Instead, it created belief. Selected first overall in the 2008 NBA Draft, Rose did not play for Thibodeau until 2010, but the impact was immediate. During the 2010–11 season, Rose averaged a career-high 25.0 points per game, became the youngest MVP in league history, and led Chicago to the top of the Eastern Conference while Thibodeau earned Coach of the Year honors.
Rose also showed his trademark humor while honoring his former coach, offering a line that brought laughter inside the arena. “It felt like he loved the game more than me, which he didn’t,” Rose said. “Thibs, you may have gone to Harvard, you may have done physics, but I showed you physics.”
A Bond That Extended Beyond Chicago
While Chicago represented the peak of Rose’s career, his relationship with Thibodeau did not end when his Bulls tenure did. The two reunited later with the Minnesota Timberwolves and again with the New York Knicks, reinforcing a bond built on trust and mutual respect rather than circumstance.
Thibodeau, now a two-time Coach of the Year, returned the praise during Rose’s ceremony, Pro Football Network reports. He called Rose a rare talent whose leadership went beyond scoring. “His humility made our team special,” Thibodeau said. “His leadership was about trust, accountability, and performance. He showed everyone what it means to be a great Chicago Bull and a great man. The next stop, in my opinion, is the Hall of Fame.”
Rose now joins Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Jerry Sloan, and Bob Love as the only players in franchise history with retired jerseys. Fans will always wonder what could have been without the injuries, but Rose’s impact remains undeniable. His career averages of 17.4 points and 5.2 assists only tell part of the story.
On a night built around legacy, Rose chose clarity. He shut down a narrative that followed him for years and replaced it with gratitude, loyalty, and perspective, all delivered in his own unmistakable voice.