Joakim Noah Delivers Powerful Quote After Rose Sees His Banner For The First Time

Yesterday morning, Derrick Rose was shown his official banner for the first time. As he was brought onto the court for a surprise, a massive commemorative banner awaited, bearing his name, his career in Chicago, and his number. For most, this cements Rose’s career with the Bulls and means nobody will ever wear his number again. For Rose, it was a full-circle moment. A kid from the cement courts of Chicago, drafted first overall to the franchise, earning the league’s MVP award in his third year with the franchise, and now having his jersey retired, it was a dream come true. Shortly after the unveiling, his family would join him on the floor, followed closely behind by some of his longest-tenured and most impactful teammates. One of those was Joakim Noah, who remains a fan-favorite and Chicago Bulls ambassador to this day. The Rose-Noah era was one of the most electric and unforgettable time periods in the organization’s illustrious history, and seeing his former teammate’s jersey be hung in the rafters meant more to Noah than anything else. Here’s what he had to say, and how Rose reacted to watching his childhood dreams come true.

“This Is Our Championship”

Joakim Noah was the heart and soul of the Chicago Bulls for nearly a decade. He, much like Rose, embodied the city of Chicago and represented it well on and off the court. The duo quickly became one of the franchise’s most talented and most liked ever. Seeing his best friend and closest teammate forever cemented in the rafters of the United Center made the former two-time All-Star center beam with pride.

“To see Derrick go up in the rafters, it’s
undescribable. This is our championship.” – Joakim Noah

The Bulls will retire Derrick Rose’s jersey tomorrow

@chicagobulls pic.twitter.com/d9sPZOOxiU

— Sole Retriever (@SoleRetriever) January 23, 2026

The closest the team ever got to a championship was in the 2010-11 season, when they lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Derrick Rose won the MVP award that year, and despite missing nearly half of the season to injury, Noah averaged a double-double and posted over two blocks per game in the postseason run.

Ending Of An Era

Seeing Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich, Joakim Noah, and Taj Gibson share time on the United Center again felt like a moment frozen in time. 15 years ago, they were climbing the ranks in the Eastern Conference behind their superstar young point guard, while Gibson and Noah patrolled the paint, and Hinrich proved to be one of the league’s scrappiest and most efficient guards. Fast forward to today’s product: the team is sorely lacking star talent, has been stuck in mediocrity for nearly a decade, and lacks gritty players who truly embody the city of Chicago. Tonight will not only be a celebration of Rose and that era of players, but also a sad reminder that the active roster and future projections are nowhere near the glory the organization once enjoyed.

Taj Gibson, Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose & Kirk Hinrich back together again pic.twitter.com/5YWN96t4Y7

— Six Point Sports (@SixPointSports) January 16, 2026

Prepare for all of the feels while watching Derrick Rose take his rightful place in Chicago’s history. As one of the most memorable and legendary homegrown products, Rose and his lasting impact on the city will never be forgotten.