Kevin Garnett Advocates for Derrick Rose Statue in Chicago
Credit: Fadeaway World
Kevin Garnett argues that Derrick Rose deserves a statue in Chicago, even though he didn’t win a championship.
This week, Dwyane Wade was honored with a statue by the Miami Heat, and Kevin Garnett thinks the Chicago Bulls should follow suit for Derrick Rose. On his podcast Ticket & The Truth, Garnett detailed why Rose deserves such recognition in Chicago.
“What I’m about to say is probably one of the rarest circumstances in NBA history, so just hear me out,” Garnett began. “Usually, people who get statues have championships… But if he didn’t, he was still ‘that guy’ who meant so much to the city, so you put him up.”
“Picture this kid who grows up in a city with an NBA team,” Garnett continued. “He’s raised there, it’s his team… He goes to high school, becomes ‘that guy’ there, goes to college, and then is drafted by the same city he grew up in. That’s the dream, right? Then he wins MVP for that team.”
“I hope people get what I’m saying,” Garnett added. “A D-Rose statue in Chicago—he doesn’t need to be on Mike’s (Jordan’s) side, Mike has his own legacy. D-Rose deserves his own. Growing up in Chicago, dominating for the Bulls—that’s his DNA.”
Garnett’s argument is compelling, and his co-host Paul Pierce agreed that Rose merits a statue. Garnett envisions the statue inside the United Center, with a replica outside Simeon Career Academy, where Rose made a name for himself in high school. He even predicted millions would attend the statue’s unveiling.
Rose has become an icon in Chicago. Born there, he rose to fame at Simeon before attending the University of Memphis in 2007. After one year, he was selected first overall by the Bulls in the 2008 NBA Draft.
Rose’s early years with the Bulls were remarkable; he became the youngest MVP in NBA history in 2011, setting expectations for future success. But then injuries struck. Rose tore his ACL in 2012, followed by a meniscus tear the next year, derailing his career. Ultimately, the Bulls traded him in 2016, an unthinkable move in his prime.
Rose left the Bulls with averages of 19.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game. Although he never reached the NBA Finals, he did lead the Bulls to the Conference Finals once in his eight seasons.
I understand Garnett’s point about Rose’s story, but I doubt the Bulls will erect a statue for him. His on-court achievements might not be enough for a statue, but he could still have his number retired someday.
Dwyane Wade: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry should be the next players honored with statues.