The Chicagoist will be launching later but in the meantime please enjoy our archives.

Derrick Rose: I Made A Video To Recruit LeBron, Wade & Bosh To Bulls In 2010

By Stephen Gossett in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 10, 2017 8:15PM

derrickrose2017getty.jpg
Getty Images / Photo: Jason Miller

The Chicago Bulls faithful isn't exactly wanting in terms of experiencing dynastic salad days, but today fans will be left with an overwhelming sense of "what if." Chicago native and former Bulls star Derrick Rose claimed today that he made a video in 2010 to recruit the so-called Big Three to Chicago: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Rose dropped the semi-bombshell in speaking with Tribune reporter KC Johnson on Tuesday. "People always said I didn't recruit. I tried to recruit," Rose said, pushing back—really for the first time—against the long-running narrative that Rose, then preceded by his ever-humble image, didn't lobby players on behalf of the Bulls.

Rose went on to say that he made a video trying to woo the trio—all of whom were free agents in 2010, all of whom eventually signed with the Miami Heat, the team that went on to win two championships and make four Finals appearances between 2011 and 2014. "I put out a video But it wasn't for me to say that. I felt like the organization was supposed to say that. And they didn't," Rose said.

He said he had never mentioned the campaign before because he wanted to see who had his back.


Rose of course was in his prime in 2010, on the precipice of becoming the league's youngest ever MVP, before ACL injuries would eventually riddle his effectiveness. It's fun/infuriating to imagine what might have been if James and co. decided to take their talents to the Near West Side.

We guess there's always the option of watching the Cleveland Cavaliers, where the "dream backcourt" of Rose and Wade plus James has actually materialized—if seven years late and some 300 miles off the target.

On the bright side, the Bulls will probably get a very high pick in the next draft!