Derrick Rose has a humble request for the Chicago Bulls—no statue, please. Ahead of “Derrick Rose Night” at the Bulls’ game against the Knicks on Saturday, the former MVP told ESPN he’d rather skip the risk of becoming meme material, citing recent tribute missteps.
For Rose, the spotlight is fine, but immortalization can wait, as reported by TMZ.
He indeed cited a solid reason for declining a statue outside the United Center, seemingly referencing the backlash and online jokes surrounding Dwyane Wade’s recent sculpture outside the Miami Heat’s arena.
“The way people have been creating these statues, I don’t want a statue,” he told the outlet. “No statue. Jerry [Reinsdorf], no statue. Please, Michael [Reinsdorf], no statue.”
Rose indicated that he was open to the idea of his No. 1 jersey being retired by the Chicago Bulls, calling it a gesture he’d love. Given his eight standout seasons with the team—earning Rookie of the Year, MVP, and leading Chicago to its best post-Jordan era record—a jersey retirement seems likely.
However, after witnessing the online ridicule surrounding Wade’s recent statue, Rose’s hesitation over a similar tribute appears well-founded.
