"Derrick Rose. One. A one percent chance for the Chicago Bulls to draft number one in the 2008 NBA Draft. One player mocked in the first round who was born in Chicago. One -the number he wore on the back of his jersey for the Bulls. One player to win the NBA Most Valuable Player award at the age of 22 or younger. And one -the number that will forever be retired by the Chicago Bulls for Derrick Rose tonight."
"I started watching the NBA in 2009, when I was just seven years old. And by the time I was 12, I had already cried and begged for a pair of shoes with the flower on them, like the man on the TV-hoping I could jump out of the gym like him. (Spoiler alert: I couldn't.) And here I am, almost two decades later, still talking about the legacy he left behind."
"The seed was sown at Simeon, a powerhouse high school program in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood that has a long history if state championships, elite prospects and future NBA players. It was at Simeon where the world began to take notice of Derrick Rose. Back-to-back state championships. Leading Simeon to become the first Illinois team to play at Madison Square Garden. Illinois' Mr. Basketball. Gatorade Player of the Year. McDonald's All-American. A top-five prospect in the nation. Countless heroic moments, all while donning the number 25."
Derrick Rose emerged from Simeon High School in Chicago's Englewood with back-to-back state championships and major high school honors, wearing number 25 in memory of Benji Wilson. A top-five national prospect, he led Memphis to the National Championship game in a season with few losses, losing the final by seven points. The Chicago Bulls selected him number one in the 2008 NBA Draft after improbable odds, and he later became an NBA Most Valuable Player at age 22 or younger. His number one jersey will be retired by the Chicago Bulls, marking an enduring legacy.
Read at Bleacher Nation
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]