'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Derrick Rose, the youngest MVP in the history of the game, is one of the most electrifying players of all-time. He is a 3-time NBA All-Star, member of 2011 All-NBA First Team, 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year.
A career plagued by injuries, Rose is known for his magnificent moments during his time in Chicago at the United Center, home to the Chicago Bulls. It was always sold-out during Rose's tenure and the stadium was one of the loudest anyone could ask for. During his seven seasons with the Bulls, he carried the team to the playoffs for five seasons. Though he was constantly questioned about his drive and commitment to the game by media and fans, he will forever be Chicago's favorite son.
Rose has been traded to the New York Knicks by Bulls in 2016. He spent a season in New York and then entered free agency in 2017 when he signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He only played in 16 games for the Cavaliers before he was traded mid-season to the Utah Jazz. Rose was waived by the Jazz and he went on to sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In the 2018 NBA Playoffs first round, Rose showed glimpses of his old aggressive self and averaged 14.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists.
Here, we look at Derrick Rose's five best games during his tenure with the Chicago Bulls.
#5 22nd Jan, 2010 at Phoenix Suns
Stat line: 32 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals at 71.4% shooting
The Chicago Bulls visited the Suns for a regular season game during the 2009-10 season, entering this game with a losing record unlike Phoenix and were on a two-game losing streak. Derrick Rose came up alive in this game with 32 points and the Bulls registered an easy 115-104 win against Phoenix.
Derrick Rose was +7 on the game, shot the ball very efficiently and went 15-of-21 with a field-goal percentage of 71.4. Luol Deng also chipped in for the Bulls with 23 points. Rose had only one turnover after playing for over 44 minutes in the game.
This game will be remembered for Rose's facial dunk on Suns' Goran Dragic in the fourth quarter when the Bulls were leading by 6. This game marked the beginning of a 5-game winning streak for Bulls that eventually got ended by LA Clippers.
#4 2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Game 3) at Atlanta Hawks
Stat line: 44 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 block and a steal on 59.3% shooting
The Bulls entered the Conference Semifinals after an easy series-win against the Indiana Pacers in the First Round in 5 games. The Hawks too did not waste much time and won against the Magic in the First Round quite comfortably in 6 games.
In the Conference Semifinals, though the Bulls had home court advantage but they lost it by losing the game 1 at home. Chicago managed to win Game 2 and visited Philips Arena to get back the home court advantage. In Game 3, Rose managed to produce one of the greatest performances of his career and dropped 44 points in a crucial win, 99-82.
Rose shot the ball consistently well in the game and went for 16-27 with a field-goal percentage of 59.3. He went to the free-throw line 9 times and made 8 of those free-throws. Rose was +17 on the game with only two turnovers. The Bulls went on to win the series in 6 games and made it to the Conference Finals which they lost to the newly assembled Big 3 of Miami Heat
#3 2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Game 3) vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Stat line: 30 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 block and a steal
In the 2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Chicago Bulls were pitted against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was a tough matchup for Bulls because the Cavs entered Semifinals sweeping the Boston Celtics. In the game 3 of the Conference Semifinals, coming off a tough loss on the road and the series tied at 1-1, Derrick Rose exploded for 30 points along with the game-winner to defend the home court.
Rose was +9 on the game and shot 10-26 from the field with a field-goal percentage of 38.5. D Rose lead both the teams in scoring after playing 38 minutes. Rose was very efficient from the free-throw line and made 9 out of his 10 attempts. Though the Bulls went on to lose the series in 6 games, the NBA universe will never forget Rose's game-winner in this game against LeBron James and the Cavaliers that gave the Bulls a 2-1 lead in the series.
#2 17th February 2011 vs San Antonio Spurs
Stat line: 42 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and a block
This is a really special game for Rose and the Bulls because this performance came on Chicago Bulls' legend, Michael Jordan's birthday and against a really competitive San Antonio Spurs team. Rose exploded for 42 points against the Spurs who were 46-9 at the time.
Rose was a huge +15 on the game and shot the ball really well, going for 18-28 from the field with a field-goal percentage of 64.3. Rose was the high scorer on that night and played for 38 minutes. The United Center was filled with MVP chants and Rose ended up becoming the youngest MVP in the history of the NBA a few months later.
This game ended the Spurs' two-game winning streak and gave the Bulls much-needed confidence heading into the All-Star break.
#1 2009 Eastern Conference First Round ( Game 1 ) vs Boston Celtics
Stat line: 36 points, 4 rebounds, 11 assists, and a steal
This has to be #1 on this list. Rose's first playoff game of his career is the best game of his career with the Bulls. The Bulls were pitted against the defending-champion - the Boston Celtics in the First Round of the 2009 NBA playoffs. Playing on the road, in game 1, Rose put on a dazzling show and scored 36 points in a 2-point win in overtime.
Rose was red-hot from the field and went for 12-19 with a field-goal percentage of 63.2. He led both the teams in scoring and assists. Rose played close to 50 minutes scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter. He tied Kareem Abdul Jabbar's record for most points in a playoff debut with 36.
The Bulls ultimately lost in a very closely fought series in 7 games and exited from the playoffs but this series will go down as one of the greatest First Round series of all-time.
