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Detroit Pistons point guard Derrick Rose is a Chicago legend because of his decorated high school career at Simeon Career Academy, the charity work which he has done in the city, and his run with Chicago Bulls.
Rose was named Illinois Mr. Basketball in 2007 and won back-to-back Public League championships his junior and senior year. The Chicago native became the youngest MVP in NBA history during the 2010-11 season with the Bulls. Moreover, he donated $1 million to After School Matters, a non-profit organization that provides life-changing after-school and summer program opportunities to more than 18,000 Chicago high school teens each year.
Rose has also paid for multiple funerals in Chicago, so his connection with the Windy City is bigger than basketball. The three-time All-Star and current Pistons floor general says he's “honored” to know he's the reason kids fell in love with basketball in Chicago:
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“I’ll never be the one to brag,” Rose told Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. “That’s just not me. I don’t look at myself like that. It’s just basketball.
“But to a generation, I’m the player they looked up to that helped them start playing basketball, especially in Chicago and the Illinois area. So to think about that, it’s like, man, I’ve made it a long way, coming up on year 12. I had to replay everything in my mind. I had some great moments that I can really hold on to and cherish, so I’m just blessed and honored that I was able to have those moments and the memories.”
Even though he's on the Pistons now, there’s a bevy of people in Chicago who are rooting for Derrick Rose and the 31-year-old really appreciates the love he gets from his hometown.
The Pistons have played against the Bulls three times this season, twice at the United Center. Rose got a standing ovation during both games from the Chicago crowd at the UC and there were MVP chants as well.
