Joakim Noah, the former Defensive Player of the Year, took to Instagram to pay tribute to his friend and former teammate Derrick Rose after the latter announced his retirement yesterday. Noah thanked Rose for being a friend and his teammate, praised him for his strength and perseverance, and told him that they would be brothers for life.
“Hope is a powerful emotion. You always represented hope- in human form. It was clear what you meant to your city even before you got drafted. Everyone knew where you were headed watching you play at Simeon. And when the Bulls got first pick in 2008, and everyone knew you were coming home, the city had hope.”
“It was an honor, a privilege, and a real pleasure sharing the court with you. The memories will never be forgotten. Stories for days!!! The way you carried yourself when the lights shined brightest is what I appreciated most. You were a truly humble warrior. You had the heart of a lion. Quiet but competitive as hell.”
“During the games our moms’ nervous smoking cigarettes on the loading dock. You always kept a close circle. You were the youngest MVP with the city on your back, but you were an introvert at heart. Our relationship grew even more when we faced adversity.”
“We never won a championship but as a teammate and a friend, I just want to tell you I’m grateful. I couldn’t be prouder to have laced them up with you homie. You deserve your flowers and your respect Pooh. Thank you for the memories. As we’ve aged I continue to get inspiration from you as a father and a husband.”
“You really hold your crew down and I’m happy for you, Alaina, PJ, Layla, and London. They will get you full time and you guys will continue to thrive. I know your next chapter will be greater than your playing career because you are as real and as true as it gets and that’s why you inspire us all. Basketball or no basketball – YOU HAVE A BROTHER FOR LIFE!”
It was lovely to see Noah share such kind words and stories about Rose in the wake of his retirement. The two played together on the Chicago Bulls and were once considered one of the best duos in the NBA.
With Rose dominating the offensive end and Noah holding things down on the defensive end, the Bulls experienced the most success they had since the Michael Jordan era with them on the court.
Derrick Rose’s Legacy Cannot Be Questioned
Since Derrick Rose announced his retirement, there have been a lot of discussions among fans about what Rose’s legacy will be now that he has retired from the sport of basketball.
Rose, who is the youngest NBA MVP in history, winning the award at just 22 years old, was a mercurial star during the peak of his powers, making three All-Star teams and becoming one of the best players in the entire league.
But after his 2012 ACL injury, Rose was never the same and settled into a role-player position in the league for several different teams.
While it was heartbreaking to see what could have been an incredible career play out this way, the way Rose battled through the difficult injuries and mental adversity it caused was nothing short of inspiring.
Some argue that Derrick Rose shouldn’t be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame for just three good seasons.
But when you consider what he achieved in college as well as at the FIBA World Cup with Team USA, along with the feat of being the youngest MVP in history, there is little debate as to whether he belongs in the Hall of Fame. It’s just a matter of when he gets nominated.
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