Derrick Rose’s journey, from a Chicago son to a Chicago legend, will forever be a tale of inspiration. Rose carved his place in history not only as one of the greatest individual performers in Chicago Bulls history but also as the youngest-ever MVP. And now, with the announcement of his retirement, emotions are running high. One player who knows this all too well is his former Bulls teammate, Taj Gibson, who spent seven years by Rose’s side. The retirement news left Gibson deeply shaken.

Just days after D-Rose’s retirement announcement, current Charlotte Hornets forward Taj Gibson opened up about his feelings in a press conference. “Heartbroken… The last few days have been a blur,” Gibson shared. “From a mental standpoint, he’s one of the toughest guys in the league. So for him to really call it quits, it brought tears to my eyes… I cried a lot.”

Their journey together began when the Bulls selected Derrick Rose as the first overall pick in 2008, with Gibson joining the team just a year later. The duo led Chicago through some of its most competitive years. Reflecting on those times, Gibson once said, “Off the court, personally, he’s just a great guy. He’s never been negative… He’s just an awesome dude, man. For real.” In fact, Gibson has long advocated for Rose’s jersey, #1, to be retired by the Bulls.

However, D-Rose’s impact extended far beyond his MVP title in 2011, when he became the youngest to win the award at just 22. Despite facing relentless injuries, he always pushed forward, finishing his career with an impressive average of 17.4 points and 5.2 assists across 723 games.

Perhaps one of the most significant testaments to Rose’s influence on the game is the ‘Derrick Rose Rule’. This rule, part of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, allows players on rookie contracts who hit specific achievements, like being named MVP, to earn a max contract. It’s a lasting legacy that shows just how deeply Rose’s career shaped the league. And Gibson understands that better than most.

Taj Gibson wants the Bulls to retire Derrick Rose’s jersey

Back in 2022, during a post-game conference, Taj Gibson made it clear that he believes Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah’s jerseys deserve to hang in the rafters of the United Center. When asked about the possibility, Gibson confidently said, “It would be awesome, well deserved. Both guys put the city on their back.” He didn’t just stop there—he emphasized how everyone who wore the Bulls jersey during that era carried the weight of Chicago, but D-Rose and Noah were something special.

Growing up in Englewood, one of the city’s toughest neighborhoods, Rose not only made it out but also led his high school team to back-to-back state championships. Just 5 years later, he brought the Bulls to their only Conference Finals appearance in the last 25 years, further cementing his status as a hometown hero.

However, injuries changed the course of D-Rose’s career in Chicago, leaving behind a sense of unfinished business. After tearing his ACL in 2012, Rose sat out the entire following season and played only ten games the next year. Despite the anticipation of his comeback, it was evident that the injury had forever altered his professional trajectory.

Even now, if you ask his former teammates like Joakim Noah and Luol Deng, they believe the Bulls could have won a championship if not for Rose’s injuries. That era remains one of the greatest “what-ifs” in NBA history.