Chicago legend and hometown hero Derrick Rose recently made an appearance at the 2025 Adidas Eurocamp. At the pre-draft camp — featuring some of the most talented basketball players from around the globe — Rose shared his thoughts on a range of topics, including his Hall of Fame legacy, his roots, and the lessons he hopes to pass on to young athletes chasing their dreams.
Derrick Rose Opens Up About NBA Hall of Fame
In an exclusive interview with Cyro Asseo de Choch of HoopsHype, Rose reflected on his potential Hall of Fame career and whether he envisions the day he might be officially honored. He even gave an unpopular opinion on the NBA GOAT.
The 2011 NBA MVP was asked to revisit a previous discussion about his candidacy, with the reporter prompting him: “You once said that you’re a Hall of Famer in the eyes of the people you grew up with. What does Hall of Fame recognition mean to you?”
Rose answered: “When I said that it’s all about just setting standards. It’s a lot of people that I’m around or that’s just in Chicago. And they tell me like, you’re the first to help me with this. You’re the first to help me with that. Or you’re the first to open my eyes to like certain things.
“And with me, when I do and I try to attack some of my dreams, it’s never like I’m searching for it. Like, man, we have to be the first to do this. It’s like, no, we are passionate about something, and I want to attack it a certain way.”
Thank you, Derrick. 🌹
(via @drose) pic.twitter.com/4wypcNz0EE
— NBA (@NBA) September 26, 2024
Rose grew up in Englewood, on the South Side of Chicago, where he attended Simeon Career Academy—a school known for producing many of the city’s top basketball talents. His upbringing in a neighborhood often associated with significant challenges played a pivotal role in shaping his character and fueling his eventual success.
When asked to specifically address his shot at basketball immortality, the 2009 Rookie of the Year played it cool.
“I don’t like talking about it because I don’t like talking about Hall of Fame,” Rose said. “I feel like I’m already in the Hall of Fame when you think about, when you ask kids from my city or you go around my city and you ask them about who I was… or my family members with me setting goals and standards for my family. What I’m achieving now, even after basketball, I feel like that’s Hall of Fame s***.”
When Will D-Rose Be Eligible for Induction?
D-Rose called it a career on Sept. 26, 2024, after a storied 15-year run in the NBA. The 2009 No. 1 overall pick was a three-time All-Star, earned one All-NBA selection, and won the MVP award during the 2010–2011 season.
Rose averaged 17.4 points and 5.2 assists over 723 regular-season games. While those numbers are impressive by any standard, it’s hard not to wonder what his career might have looked like had he not suffered multiple major injuries.
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According to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, a player must be fully retired for four full seasons before becoming eligible for enshrinement. That means Rose would be eligible in 2028.
Whatever happens, Rose seems to view his life as Hall of Fame-worthy — not just for his accomplishments on the court, but for his whole journey, personal growth, and the deep impact he’s had on his family and the city of Chicago.
