Drafted No. 1 overall pick in 2008 by his hometown of Chicago, Rose was poised to be the face not only of the Bulls franchise, who was looking for the next hero after the legendary Michael Jordan, but of the entire NBA as well.
The budding superstar immediately blossomed in his decorated rookie season, guiding his squad to the first round of the playoffs of the same year before bowing to defending champion Boston Celtics in the quarterfinals and becoming the Rookie of the Year, only the third Bulls to do so.
Dubbed the Windy City Assassin because of his lethal buzzer-beaters, Rose was already averaging 25.0 points per game, 7.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds, making him the youngest Most Valuable Player and by his third year, he became the third player to score 2,000+ points and 600+ assists in a single season.
But that potential was nipped early by the biggest setback of his career back in 2012 as the crafty guard drove into a hop-step in the paint, a move that changed his life forever as it resulted in a non-contact ACL tear on his left knee.
Reblossoming
Thus, the dynamic guard out of Englewood, Chicago, became one of the biggest “what if” of the NBA. It was an uphill battle from then on for Rose as he struggled to regain his old form.
The then 30-year-old Rose marked a new chapter of his career after signing with Minnesota Timberwolves which was highlighted by a 128-125 rout of Utah Jazz. “We got a young group; my job is to help the guys out and lead by example,” an emotional Rose, who raised his fist to roaring chants of MVP after finishing with a career-high 50 points, said in a postgame interview
A rose in full bloom
Last year, Rose joined hands with the Philippines’ biggest sportsbook, ArenaPlus, as their endorser–a perfect figure of resilience, an icon of greatness, and a reflection of inspiration for his Filipino fans as someone who didn’t let any setback hold him down.
Like Rose, Filipinos have been described as resilient as they smiled over hardships. Also like Rose, who despite his injury kept moving forward with the hope of finding his lost self in the process, Filipinos remain optimistic for a better tomorrow.
D.Rose, as he is often called, didn’t give up and kept doing everything he could to improve. In the process, he also inspired others including Filipino athletes.
ArenaPlus admires his legacy as he rose above the odds. Last January 24 (US time), Rose’s jersey finally went up to the rafters of the United Center Arena in Chicago, Illinois, USA. As a tribute to his greatness, ArenaPlus is giving away five signed DRose jerseys this week. Find out how to join in this article.
Now, his hard work has paid off, as Rose saw his jersey number retired in the hometown he cherished. He will be forever recognized as the Most Valuable Player, on and off the court. Thank you, Derrick Rose! Isa kang tunay na astig!
Get signed Derrick Rose jerseys
As a tribute to Rose’s Jersey retirement, ArenaPlus is giving away five signed Derrick Rose jerseys for his fans in the Philippines. From January 26 12:00NN to February 2 12:00NN (PH time), follow ArenaPlus on its official social media accounts (Facebook: ArenaPlus PH, Instagram: @arenaplusph, or TikTok: @arenaplusofiicial) and simply like and share the official event post. Comment and tag five of your friends, and make sure they are also following ArenaPlus’ socials.
Remember, your account MUST be public throughout the duration of the event. Winners of Derrick Rose signed jerseys will be announced only on ArenaPlus official pages.
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