Rose's Homecoming in Chi-City

For Derrick Rose, this early season game was much bigger than any other. The Chicago born and raised star, would be returning to face the team that traded him, and play in front of the fans who cheered him, for eight years, in a new uniform.

The city of Chicago was already buzzing coming off the Chicago Cubs winning their first World Series in 108 years, so the energy and atmosphere inside the United Centers gym was special Friday night.

During introductions, Rose heard a loud ovation but not of the cheers he had come accustomed to, there were boo’s mixed in there as well, which he anticipated.

“It was all fun, I love when the crowd gets into it. I knew there was gonna be some yells, some boos, I’m from here, I’m used to it. I’ve been getting it since the sixth grade when I was the South side going to the West side,” Rose said, according to the NY Post.

In his homecoming, Rose performed as the star the people of Chicago knew and normally loved. Rose played his best game in a New York Knicks uniform, tallying 15 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists, with the most important statistic, a 117-104 win.

Rose showed flashes of his old self, before the multiple knee surgeries, with his athleticism, quickness and knack for finishing around the rim. Although he might not admit it, there was definitely some extra motivation/drive to perform well in this building against the team who virtually gave up on him.

“I tried to stay patient, the circus around the game was kind of crazy. I tried to stay sane,” Rose said, post-game, according to the NY Post.