CHICAGO — Derrick Rose knew he couldn’t hold back the tears, so he figured, why try?

“That’s why I had to wear the glasses because I knew I was going to get emotional,” Rose said Thursday at a private screening of “Becoming a Rose,” the former Chicago Bulls star’s self-made retirement film.

The two-minute tribute will premiere during a halftime ceremony honoring Rose at the Bulls’ game against the New York Knicks on Saturday. It will be the highlight of an evening dedicated to the Chicago native and 2011 NBA MVP, who announced his retirement in September. The Bulls dubbed the matchup “Derrick Rose Night.”

Players from both teams will wear themed shooting jerseys to honor Rose’s time with both franchises. The game date is printed numerically on the front (1.4.25) and the jerseys feature Rose’s jersey numbers, which he wears with the Bulls, Knicks and Simeon Career Academy. The Bulls, his first NBA team, will open the Derrick Rose Atrium Experience, featuring everything from memorabilia to a mosaic in the shape of Rose’s logo, created using photos from his life and career.

There will be moments during the game to recognize Rose, his family and many of his former Bulls teammates who will be in attendance. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also declared January 4, 2025, “Derrick Rose Day” in Chicago.

01/04/25 will forever be Derrick Rose Day 🌹 pic.twitter.com/RnuGlrW9Ja

– Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 4, 2025

“I can’t explain it,” Rose said. “It’s something you see in movies, or I usually sit on the couch and watch someone get that.”

But the highlight of Rose’s coronation will be different. At a time when all the attention will be on Rose, he did everything he could to bring the flowers back to his beloved hometown. What fans will see on Saturday is a heartfelt tribute video, not to Rose, but to the city of Chicago. With his eldest son PJ as narrator and co-star, Rose and his team collaborated with Adidas to create a touching tribute to the people and places in Chicago that made him.

“Roses need water and sunlight to grow, but this rose needed a city” says PJ at the beginning of the film.

“I want the city to feel like they can give another city or another state a run for their money and say, ‘Look what we have.’ Look what we did,” Rose said. “Because it’s impossible to tell my story without telling the city’s story.”

Rose is that rarest of sports heroes: a candidate who defied all odds to become the youngest MVP in his hometown team’s NBA history. He spent his first eight seasons in Chicago after the Bulls drafted him No. 1 overall in 2008. The player, nicknamed “Pooh” by his grandmother as a child, was named Rookie of the Year in 2009, was named to the All-Star selection three times in 2012 and led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2011 before knee injuries derailed his career made.

“From a city that raises you with tough love and lifts you up in difficult times.”

“Pooh is very special,” said former Bulls star and Rose’s friend Joakim Noah The athlete. “When this crowd chants ‘MVP’ (Saturday), it’s about more than just basketball. It’s just nice to see how far he’s come. This story is about more than just winning a championship. This is a painful story. This is as soulful as it can get. This is a Chicago story.”

“Becoming a Rose” takes audiences on an intimate journey with Rose and his family, from the United Center to his childhood home on the south side of the city and back. In between, Rose shows his son Murray Park — not just a playground, but Rose’s practice facility — as well as the halls and gym at Simeon, where he led his high school team to consecutive state championships. Rose also shows his son the old neighborhood barbershop where so many boys became men.

“Whenever we see athletes and their farewell video, it’s always about them,” said Carlyle Garrick, director of the tribute. “They are videos and stories, highlights and plays that we have seen forever and are currently re-watching for the 30th time. But it was nice to see his family, friends and places that were special to him. Hearing PJ’s voice gave it a family touch too.”

Filming for the film lasted three days in early December. On the first day of filming, the crew received temperatures of 22 degrees. Reflecting on the icy conditions, it’s the only time Rose expressed anything other than her awe for Chicago.

“It was so cold out there, bro,” Rose recalled. “When I came back I was so cold that I had to put on tights under my long johns. And my boys would regularly say, “What?” They would laugh at me. But I enjoyed being here because something so small can help shape your character if you are aware of it.”

Garrick, a California native who played linebacker at Oregon from 2011 to 2015, said it was the coldest he had ever experienced. He will also remember Rose’s commitment to the project, which resulted in one of the fastest turnarounds he has ever been involved with. Garrick said productions of this scale typically take about three months.

Storytelling through film is one of Rose’s many passions. He described himself as a visual learner and “Becoming a Rose” is his directorial debut. Rose also manifests a partnership with a major studio. Rose cited Quentin Tarantino as one of his favorite directors and said he envisions one day featuring family members prominently in his films.

“A quiet child with a loud dream.”

Garrick’s respect for Rose grew after witnessing the latter approach a new craft. He said Rose was present on every video call with a notepad and camera, determined to learn the process while providing critical creative input. From the overall concept to every meticulous detail of the production, Rose was involved.

“I’m watching every step so that I can express myself in this position in the way that a great director should,” said Rose.

He will never stop being a student of the game.

“That’s why I feel like this film is an authentic look at who Derrick is and who this city is,” Garrick said. “He’s investing in all of us, including himself, and proving to people that I really care about this craft.” He may not say it, but he’s actually leading that charge. It’s special to see someone care so early after the game.”

For Rose, it’s about leveraging his massive platform and putting a spin on his community reach, just as it’s always been more important to Rose than basketball throughout his playing career.

“Of course you can express yourself artistically through films. But at the same time, we’re trying to keep people employed,” Rose said. “We could have made this film and flown everyone in from different cities, but we used people who were from here. Many of us (black and brown) were on set and working. This is where I see us, our team, adapting: giving in different ways and finding unique ways to show gratitude.

“If you look at the economy and really think practically about what’s going on and how people are doing, when you come back here and just see the visual, certain places still look the same. Every year when I come back it might still look the same. I will say that in the next 10, 20 years the question will arise: “Who will change it?” I answer the question: it will be me. It has to be up to me or my team to change that. Taking responsibility, taking responsibility for it… but doing it smartly and doing it right by employing people and giving them opportunities.”

“A rose can have many colors. But this rose will always be Chicago red.”

The final scene shows Rose sharing the United Center court with only his eldest son, now a long way from the toddler who sat on Rose’s lap and stole hearts after playoff games. They shoot together in an empty arena. Rose lowers a basket and throws her arms up in celebration. As the film fades out, a quiet chant of “MVP” is heard.

For all he did for Chicago, and for all he meant then and continues to do today, the cheers Rose receives on Saturday will be deafening as fans see his carefully curated tribute to the place where he lived he will always call home.

“This will represent a Chicago feel, a Chicago way of presenting ourselves to the world,” Rose said. “It’s all intrinsic. It’s all real and I hope you like it.”

(Top photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)