“I’m good”: Derrick Rose declines Bulls statue after Dwyane Wade’s unveiling

Last Saturday, on January 24, 2026, the rafters of the United Center finally felt complete as Derrick Rose’s No. 1 jersey was raised into the Chicago skyline. Surrounded by his family and the roar of a crowd that never stopped believing in him, the moment brought a wave of emotions for Derrick Rose, who couldn’t stop the stream of tears.What often follows for a player with an illustrious and impactful career, like Derrick Rose, is the franchise building a stature in their honor, but the NBA's youngest MVP didn’t think so. In a recent sit-down on Forbes’ The Enterprise Zone, the Chicago hero made it clear that while he's honored by the love, he wants the organization to keep the bronze in the foundry. The Miami Heat built Dwyane Wade’s statue to honor his 15-year historic career with them on October 27, 2024. The statue depicted Wade’s famous, “This is my house,” gesture. But what followed upon the statue’s unveiling could become a perfect script for a stand-up special. Fans went berserk with their roasting on social media. The most common joke was that the statue looked like anyone but Dwyane Wade. Rose jokingly, upon being asked if he’d like Chacicago Bulls to build a statue for him too, said, "No knock, D-Wade... I’m good.” Rose added, “You could do the statue of a family crest, but I don’t want no statue of myself. I feel like that’s idolizing in a way and nobody to idolize.”He explained how he doesn’t like idolization, and building a statue is a form of it. It seems like a rare stance in an era where under the spotlight matters as much as being a superstar on the court. For Rose, who grew up in Englewood and became an NBA legend, the jersey retirement wasn’t just his honour, but as he stated, “This journey was never about me. Right from the jump, it was never about me".By turning down having a statue, Derrick Rose shows that he wants to preserve his legacy in its purest form with just memories. He might have retired without an NBA championship ring, but what he gained more beyond the court remains incomparable. Through his deep emotional commitment to the City of Chicago, Rose’s legacy lives in everyone’s heart. As a hometown hero, Derrick Rose remains everyone’s inspiration who ever thought dreams do not come true.