Chicago Bulls legend Derrick Rose is once again reflecting on one of the most memorable moments of his career. It was the iconic buzzer-beating shot he hit against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2015 NBA playoffs.
Derrick Rose Reflects on the Emotions Following His Buzzer-Beater vs. LeBron James
Rose recently appeared on the Bulls’ official YouTube channel, where he reacted to the viral image and expression that followed his famous game-winner. Sitting alongside Joakim Noah, Rose explained that the moment came naturally.
“Nah, but when I knew, it was like stop playin. This close,” Rose said. “He knew it too. He knew it. He came in next game and hit another one. Back to back.”
The shot Rose referenced came in Game 3 of the 2015 Eastern Conference semifinals. The Bulls and Cavaliers were tied 1-1 in the series, and the game itself was tied 96-96 in the closing seconds at the United Center.
With three seconds left, Chicago had the ball on a sideline out-of-bounds play. Mike Dunleavy Jr. inbounded the pass. Rose caught the ball on the right wing, took two hard dribbles to his left, and rose from roughly 26 feet.
The shot banked high off the glass and dropped through the net as time expired, sealing a 99-96 win for the Bulls and giving them a 2-1 series lead. Rose finished the night with 30 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and one block in one of the best playoff performances of his career.
Rose later admitted he did not call glass on the shot, describing it as a prayer that happened to be answered. His calm, almost stunned reaction after the basket quickly became a meme, spreading across social media as fans celebrated the moment.
In the 2015 playoffs, Rose averaged 20.3 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.8 rebounds across 12 games. Despite his heroics in Game 3, the series ultimately swung back in Cleveland’s favor. King James responded in Game 4 with a buzzer-beating shot of his own at the United Center to tie the series 2-2.
The Cavaliers went on to win the series 4-2, then swept the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference finals before falling to the Golden State Warriors in six games in the NBA Finals.
Rose played 15 seasons in the NBA and remains one of the most beloved players in Bulls history. He won the 2011 NBA MVP award and was a three-time All-Star, becoming the youngest MVP in league history during his peak years in Chicago.
The Bulls will honor Rose’s legacy later this month. Chicago is set to retire his No. 1 jersey on Jan. 24, 2026, in a postgame ceremony at the United Center following a game against the Boston Celtics.
Rose will become just the fifth player in franchise history to receive the honor, joining names like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
