'If you can't accept my brother, then don't pick me' - The Bulls almost didn't draft D-Rose because of his brother's criminal history

Derrick Rose put the Chicago Bulls on the basketball map again during his short but spectacular stint with the team. Rose was Chicago's No.1 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, and right from the get-go, "Pooh" was a special player with superstardom written all over him.

But while D-Rose will always be remembered for his Bulls run, many do not know that his hometown team almost did not pick him up because of his brother's past. Reggie Rose talked about that in a 2019 documentary about Derrick.

"We didn't really know Chicago was going to pick Derrick until the night before," Reggie said. "And we received a call from Chicago. Chicago told Derrick they really want to pick him, but it's some background history with his brother, talkin' about me."

D-Rose had a brother who was arrested due to drugs

It's unclear what Reggie did in the past because no article on the internet details his brushes with the law. However, when Derrick was at Memphis, "Pooh's" brother was allowed to travel for free with the team, which violated NCAA rules and was part of why D-Rose was declared ineligible and Memphis punished.

Derrick's other brother, Alan, however, was arrested in 2002 and charged with two counts of manufacturing and delivering cocaine. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years probation, which he completed in 2005.

"He might not be the No. 1 pick because of some mistakes I made in my life," added Reggie. "But Derrick told the Chicago Bulls, if you can't accept my brother, don't pick me. I remember that. He wouldn't eat. But I could see he was hurt. He tears up some because I thought he wanted to be a number one pick, and I teared up too cuz I thought I messed it up for him."

The importance of his brothers to D-Rose's success

Reggie played a big part in Derrick's career. He shielded his little brother from the media during his days at Simeon High and handled his college recruitment. Reggie and the rest of the family guided almost every decision that D-Rose made. At first, "Pooh" didn't understand it, but he let the Bulls know what mattered more to him.

"If he sold drugs, if he was a felon. At the time, I couldn't take it because it's like, 'Is it me that's getting picked, or is it my brother that's getting picked?'" said Derrick. "The good, the bad, the ugly, me and my family, my brothers, know that no matter what, we got each other's back."

Chicago ultimately decided to overlook whatever they initially felt could be detrimental to having Derrick on the team. They made him the No.1 overall pick in the 2008 Draft. It was the right decision, considering they could've ended up with Michael Beasley. For D-Rose, not only did he end up where he wanted to go, but he also taught the Bulls that blood is thicker than water.