Derrick Rose, a proud son of Chicago and a fan favorite during his time with the Bulls, recently revealed his personal all-time starting five for the franchise—a list that drew both praise and a few puzzled reactions.
While the choices Rose made reflected more than just numbers or accolades, they offered a glimpse into how former players often prioritize emotional bonds, loyalty, and legacy over sheer statistical greatness.
In an interview at the Adidas EuroCamp in Treviso, Italy, Rose was asked to name his ideal Bulls lineup. Without hesitation, he named himself, Michael Jordan (whom he referred to as “Black Cat”), and Scottie Pippen. As he considered the final two frontcourt spots, he mentioned some of the franchise’s icons—Bob Love, Jerry Sloan, and Artis Gilmore—before ultimately pivoting to players he had personal connections with.
He finalized his lineup by naming Carlos Boozer as his power forward and Joakim Noah as his center. Rose’s choice to include Luol Deng also caught people’s attention, as it seemed to overlap with Pippen’s role at small forward. However, it appears that Deng was more of an honorary sixth man—a nod to the key role he played during Rose’s MVP-level seasons, rather than a starting spot.
Despite leaving out legends like Love and Gilmore, Rose made sure to acknowledge their significant impact and accomplishments. Love averaged 21.3 points per game over nearly a decade with the Bulls, and Gilmore was an 11-time All-Star. Rose’s decision to prioritize his own era of teammates, though, shows that this lineup was about more than just on-court dominance—it was about the connection he felt to those players and the memories they created together.
Rose’s final list—himself, Jordan, Pippen, Boozer, and Noah, with Deng as a vital sixth man—might not satisfy every Bulls fan’s idea of the “best” team, but it speaks to Rose’s identity as a fiercely loyal Chicagoan. It’s a testament to how he values not only greatness on the court, but also the relationships and pride that define the Bulls’ history for him personally.
