LeBron James Sends Strong Derrick Rose Message After Bulls’ Jersey Retirement Announcement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paul White | Last updated Aug 21, 2025 12:50 PM ET

Former NBA superstar Derrick Rose inspired a generation and captured the hearts of millions of fans over his 16 seasons in the league. Injuries unfortunately derailed his career, preventing him from even scratching the surface of his true potential, but he will still be remembered as one of the most gifted players in basketball history.

The Chicago Bulls legend spent his first eight seasons with the team, but bounced around the league for the second half of his career as he struggled to adapt to life without his athleticism. Rose finally called it quits shortly before the 2024 season started, and just earlier today, the Bulls announce d that they would retire his jersey on January 24, 2026.

It will undoubtedly be a highly emotional day for Rose and the entire city as the Bulls properly honor the hometown hero. Rose is a special figure in the basketball world, which is evidenced by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James’ reaction to the news.

https://t.co/IIO5uk6da2
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 21, 2025

While it may seem like just a bunch of random emojis, James is so popular that every post or statement he makes becomes an endorsement. He knows this, so this a clear sign of just how much love and respect Rose garners among league circles, even if his excellence only lasted for a handful of years.

James and Rose don’t have a longstanding public relationship, but the two were teammates for a time back in 2018 when James recruited him to the Cleveland Cavaliers. They didn’t play with each other for very long, but James typically only requests players who he has a high degree of respect and admiration for.

To some, Rose is seen as an overrated piece of NBA history considering his extremely short peak and inability to stick with a team. But Chicago’s jersey retirement ceremony and James’ tweet makes it obvious that Rose is ingrained in the fabric of basketball forever.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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