Crowe-Armstrong’s Rose recognition will get the attention of Bulls fans

It will be fair to say that Derrick Rose became the biggest name in Chicago Bulls history since Michael Jordan. Until an ACL tear and subsequent injuries derailed his career, Rose was seen and played as a truly generational starbecoming the first player since MJ to win the MVP award as a Bulls player.

However, that doesn’t even come close to explaining exactly what D-Rose represents, to Chicago, something that he is Chicago Cubs” Pete Crowe-Armstrong may have a fair idea about that. The 37-year-old recently spoke about his encounter with Rose, claiming the Bulls legend was everything he wanted to be.

“It was one of the sweetest days of my life”

Pete Crowe-Armstrong talks about the time he met Chicago legend Derrick Rose 🌹🏀 pic.tvitter.com/iuTlDj0rSn

— MLB (@MLB) February 25, 2026

“That was one of the sweetest days of my life. Yeah, D-Rose was big in my house growing up. I’m learning how much he really meant to the city. One day he gave me a lot of his time and just reminded me that I was meant to be there. He really just took the time to get to know me and hear my story,” he said. according to the post on MLB’s X, before explaining that Rose seemingly has an answer for everything he’s unsure of.

“I almost felt like he had an answer for everything, which I’m either not sure or, but it comes out that he was Chicago, and he really is Chicago. But that guy is like everything and more that I wanted him to be. It was the coolest thing ever,” Crowe-Armstrong said.

Rose was drafted first overall by the Bulls in 2008, immediately breathing life into the struggling franchise by securing Rookie of the Year honors and leading the team to a 41-41 record. However, his best season was during the 2010-11 season.

On his way to becoming the youngest MVP in NBA history, Rose led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference Finals, positioning Chicago as a legitimate championship threat for the first time since the Michael Jordan era. Of course, the fairy tale was quickly derailed when he suffered an ACL tear during the first game of the 2012 playoffs, the first of multiple injuries that ultimately limited his potential.

Still, as the Cubs star argued, Rose is and was Chicago, and remains a major source of inspiration for young stars across the sport.