The Chicago Bulls’ announcement of Derrick Rose’s jersey retirement No. 1 in the rafters has brought so many in the basketball world to tears, particularly after that beautiful video of Rose undermining that information.
In the video, the Bulls’ official breaks the news to Rose that his jersey will soon be raised to the rafters of the United Center and is guaranteed to never be worn again unless, someday in the distant future, his son, PJ, becomes a Bull himself.
The moment Derrick Rose found he was getting his No. 1 jersey retired by the Bulls 🥹🌹
(Via @chicagobulls) pic.twitter.com/yZyliuGI0J
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 21, 2025
The moment landed heavily on Rose, who could barely compose himself as he wiped his tears and absorbed the honor of the moment. For those fans who witnessed Rose electrifying the league as a young superstar, it was pure, unscripted emotion that so beautifully embodied just how much the city of Chicago still means to him.
The video quickly spread across social media, sparking an outpouring of emotion from NBA fans.
“D Rose getting his flowers,” one fan wrote.
Another said, “Much deserved.”
One comment summed up the feeling perfectly: “Something about this feels so right.”
Others admitted Rose’s reaction hit them on a personal level.
“D Rose getting emotional like that got me soft too I just wanna give him a hug… and maybe anything he wants as well,” a fan posted.
“I’m not crying, you are,” another wrote.
“This is the most emotion I’ve seen out of D Rose ever,” wrote another fan.
Another added, “That raw emotion tells you everything about what Chicago means to this man. When a player breaks down like that hearing his jersey’s going in the rafters—that’s not just career achievement, that’s pure love for the city and fans who believed in him through everything.”
For NBA fans who grew up in the late 2000s and early 2010s, Derrick Rose was a magical player. A small guard with incredible athleticism, he would unflinchingly go up against the league’s biggest stars. In 2011, he won the MVP award at the youngest age in NBA history, leading Chicago to a 62-20 record and an Eastern Conference Finals against LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
As an admirer of LeBron, I truly remember the early battles of James and Rose, which added dimension to my admiration. Rose represented hope for Chicago as it regained hope in the post-Michael Jordan era through a homegrown talent that restored energy and pride and renewed belief in the team at the United Center.
Rose’s tale was still able to lift us all up, even after he sustained gut-wrenching injuries that altered what was once going to be a Hall of Fame career. His 50-point game with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2018 was one of the most emotional single-game performances this writer can remember, and it melted Rose into tears during the post-game interview.
And, in 2021, Rose’s renaissance with the New York Knicks came like a kind of second chapter, helping to lead the team into the NBA playoffs, where his skill reminded fans of the nightly brilliance he once provided.
Throughout it all, Rose has remained humble, relentless, and has always held Chicago close to his heart. Rose’s live reaction when he was informed several years ago that he’d been traded back to the Knicks also touched fans.
Rose is in Chicago. He gave the city hope after Jordan, carried them to relevance, and left behind memories that defined a generation of basketball fans.
The tears in his eyes told the story best: this honor wasn’t just about numbers or accolades. It was about love, for the city, for the game, and for the people who believed in him from the very beginning.
Well deserved, D Rose.
