• Derrick Rose will have his No. 1 jersey retired by the Chicago Bulls as he transitions from NBA life.
  • Rose is launching Rose’s Flower Shop, a family-run online business with a pop-up in Pilsen.
  • He says retirement freed him to explore creativity, family and new ventures while accepting his past as MVP.

Rose’s Jersey Retirement and a New Chapter

The Chicago Bulls will hang Derrick Rose’s No. 1 jersey in the United Center rafters, a final public salute to the youngest player ever to win NBA MVP. For Rose, the ceremony is less about reliving past glory than about closing a chapter and stepping into a new life outside basketball.

A pop-up in Pilsen: Rose’s Flower Shop

In a Pilsen garage turned pop-up, Rose spent hours signing bouquets, talking with fans and handling orders for Rose’s Flower Shop — a family-owned online florist he launched in retirement. The event drew more than 300 people, many who still remember his high-flying prime and came to honor the player they once cheered.

Rose dressed in a green apron labeled “Rose’s Flower Shop,” personally numbered and signed commemorative cards for preorder bouquets. He described the venture as a practical, creative step toward legacy-building and employment, saying the shop will include workshops and incentives for young people to learn entrepreneurship.

Retirement, reflection and identity

After 16 NBA seasons and a public run of injuries and off-court struggles, Derrick Rose announced his retirement in fall 2024. He has worked steadily to shift his identity from basketball icon to businessman, father and student of life.

Rose keeps the 2011 MVP trophy in his home as a reminder of what he achieved, but he has largely moved past the pursuit of accolades. He told reporters that his retirement felt like liberation, allowing him to show different sides of himself: creative, reflective and family-focused.

Family and the next generation

Fatherhood is central to Rose’s post-NBA priorities. His son, PJ, now 13, is playing basketball and drawing comparisons to his father’s early promise. Derrick says he will not force the game on PJ and wants to separate obsession from love — a lesson drawn from his own career.

Rose also describes plans beyond floristry, mentioning interests in tech and construction and a desire to build a home library for his children. He frames this period as one of learning and “self-revelation,” focusing on knowledge and personal growth.

Watch: Derrick Rose’s message to fans

Embedded post: Derrick Rose’s halftime address and retirement message (YouTube)
https://youtu.be/I-irGV0IP68?si=HuJbqAdJP8wPnTuD&t=948

What this means for Chicago

Chicago still reveres D-Rose for reigniting the city’s basketball fandom after the Jordan era. The jersey retirement will celebrate those memories, even as Rose asks fans to allow him the space to grow beyond them. He says he has no regrets about his career and intends to pour the same dedication into his family and new businesses.

Rose’s path from MVP to florist is both practical and symbolic — a public figure trading the sport’s spotlight for quieter, hands-on work aimed at legacy and community impact.

Image Referance: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6991963/2026/01/23/derrick-rose-bulls-nba-jersey-retirement-flowers/