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Derrick Rose sat down with Forbes senior writer Jabari Young at the Nasdaq MarketSite to walk through the arc of a career that captivated Chicago and the NBA for more than a decade. The conversation ranged from the highs of an MVP season to the realities of rebuilding a life after basketball, and Rose spoke plainly about moving from athlete to entrepreneur. The interview made clear that Rose intends to control the narrative of his next act rather than let it be decided for him.
One of the centerpiece topics was Rose’s forthcoming book, Derrick Rose: The Poohprint, a luxurious, archival portrait produced by Assouline and written by Scoop Jackson that chronicles his journey from the South Side to superstardom. The book, which features rare personal photos and testimonials from close friends and teammates, had a limited release tied to his recent honors and is scheduled for wider availability in March 2026. The project presents Rose not just as an athlete but as a community figure and family man, a narrative he’s clearly invested in shaping.
Chicago formally recognized Rose’s impact with a jersey retirement ceremony late in January 2026, a rare franchise honor that cemented his place among Bulls legends. The team and the city staged a heartfelt tribute at the United Center, and former teammates and figures from across the league reflected on what Rose meant to Chicago basketball. That ceremony was the public punctuation on a career that began with enormous promise and weathered injuries, critics, and endless scrutiny.
Rose’s on-court accomplishments are well-documented: Rookie of the Year in 2009 and the youngest player to win NBA MVP in 2011, milestones that changed the trajectory of the Bulls franchise in that era. He stopped being a one-note story long ago; his resilience in overcoming multiple major injuries and reinventing his game speaks to a work ethic few athletes truly possess. Those facts are part of why fans and the organization alike felt the jersey retirement was not merely ceremonial but overdue.
Off the court, Rose told Forbes he’s entering business with a clear head and concrete plans, from an early interest in restaurants to a revealed focus on construction and legacy-building enterprises. He recounted a missed opportunity with a Chick-fil-A and said that lesson reinforced the need to move decisively when opportunity appears. The message was unmistakable: this is a man shifting from being the headline to building things that outlast headlines.
That transition—athlete to businessman, public figure to private builder—is the story that matters now. Rose has the platform and, by his own account, the humility to invest it in community projects and long-term ventures that benefit his family and neighborhood. Whether you were a fan of his lightning-quick drives or simply admired the way he handled setbacks, the next chapter looks like the kind of hard work and accountability that deserves attention and respect.
