When Derrick Rose announced his sudden retirement, fans urged the Bulls to honor the star. The franchise said they would celebrate Chicago’s own on Jan. 4 when the team faces the New York Knicks. The shoe company that signed him back in 2011 is also celebrating the legacy that the 16-year veteran is leaving behind.

“Bigger than basketball 🌹 Derrick Rose’s journey began in high school at Simeon Career Academy, where he built the foundation for his career. His Simeon experience laid the groundwork for the legacy he continues to build.” The tweet from Adidas Basketball honored Pooh’s roots in stardom. “Together, we’re proud to announce Simeon as the first Rose school, continuing our mission to inspire and create opportunities for the next generation.”

It’s important not only for the 3x All-Star but also for the athletic apparel and footwear corporation. Since the latest report from the investment bank, Piper Sandler’s semiannual teen survey specifies Nike regaining its foothold. As per the data, the Swoosh remains the No. 1 brand for all teens in both apparel (34% share) and footwear (59% share). So, who better than the youngest MVP in NBA history to provide that much-needed boost?

“High school is where it all started for me, which is why I’m excited to announce the first Rose school with Simeon Career Academy. That foundation made me into the player and person I am today.” The statement from Derrick Rose continued, “But this isn’t just about basketball—it’s about providing opportunity, inspiring the next generation, and showing young athletes that they can achieve anything.” D-Rose helped his high school achieve unprecedented heights as he led the Simeon Wolverines to two straight state championships.

That meant that they became the first Chicago Public League school to achieve this feat. During his senior year, the former point guard averaged 25.2 points, 9.1 assists, 8.8 rebounds and 3.4 steals. Before entering the senior year, Sports Illustrated already ranked him as the fifth-best prospect. Speaking about prospects to star, let’s look at some other partnerships that the German brand recently made.

Derrick Rose is not the only MVP Adidas relied upon

50 years ago, Adidas and Argentina FA became partners for the first time, and to date, it is running. So for the golden jubilee, they released an iconic retro-inspired design drawn from the kit that Albi Celeste wore back in 1974. Even the Soccer legend Lionel Messi was part of the special unveiling. Apart from that, Texas Tech and Adidas also revealed a special jersey to honor their MVP alum.

Yes, the Red Raiders donned the brand new “Mahomes Strategy” threads, which is a fitting praise to the Chiefs QB1 Pat Mahomes and his partnership with Adidas. “Seeing my own logo on the Texas Tech uniform I put so much blood, sweat and tears in is one of the most meaningful off-field accomplishments of my career.”

Mahomes attended Texas Tech for three seasons and became the school’s most prolific student ever. So, from Derrick Rose to Patrick Mahomes, and even the soccer legend Lionel Messi, Adidas is pulling all the stops. And they will continue to do so since Nike has a 34% share which they certainly want to target.