Former Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose retired before the start of the season. With all retired former MVPs going to the Hall of Fame one day, many argue that D-Rose will, too, once he becomes eligible.

Current New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, who was with Rose at his best when he won the 2011 MVP award and witnessed him during his lowest when he first tore his ACL, was the latest to give the former top pick of the NBA Draft his backing.

“His numbers say what he did was incredible,” said Thibs. “He’s had an unbelievable career, and he handled everything that came his way, whether he was a 22-year old MVP or going through injuries or coming back at the end of his career coming off the bench, whatever role, he excelled in his role.”

Youngest MVP winner

Thibodeau coached Rose for over half of his NBA career. They were together in Chicago, Minnesota, and New York. And each city they teamed up, they made the playoffs. However, the most successful they had together was in the “Windy City.”

Derrick was the Bulls’ No.1 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. Chicago went to the playoffs in Rose’s first seven seasons there. They won 62 games and were the No.1 team in the East in 2011. That year, “Pooh” also became the league’s youngest MVP winner. But unfortunately, injuries cut short D-Rose’s prime.

“He was the ultimate teammate,” added Tom. “And obviously a great player. I could always recall looking into the eyes of the opponent when he had the ball. Like you could see the fear. To me, there’s no question that he’s a Hall-of-Famer. He’s a Hall-of-Fame guy.”

“The D-Rose Flu”

The fear that Derrick instilled in his opponents was known as “The Derrick Rose Flu.” As former NBA point guard Raymond Felton explained during an appearance on the “Run Your Race” podcast, many NBA guards were getting sick when it was time to play the Bulls.

“That dude right there is probably the toughest point guard I ever played against when he was in his prime,” said Felton.“When he was in his prime, ain’t nobody touching him, bro. I don’t care… CP, whoever can’t touch him. And he proved that. Coz he went through everybody. The way that man was playing that year, the year he won the MVP, it was crazy how many people were getting sick when it was time to play Chicago. It was crazy, out because of illness.”

D-Rose is one of the biggest “what-ifs” in NBA history and an interesting Hall-of-Fame case. “Pooh’s” prime was short due to injuries, but it was spectacular while it lasted. However, what Derrick did during that brief period was worthy of a HOF induction.