ESPN's Brian Windhorst went on the air Wednesday and proclaimed, "The Derrick Rose breakup with the Bulls has begun." He said the Bulls have "moved on" to an extent, and are starting to explore other future options at point guard.
Since his 2011-12 campaign ended with a torn ACL in the playoffs, Rose has only played in 67 of a potential 252 games. His latest injury occurred when he broke his orbital bone during the first official practice of this season.
In classic D-Rose form, just when everyone counts him out, he provides a glimmer of hope (Did you expect him to do this in last year's playoffs?). Rose posted 29 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds in a 104-98 Bulls win Thursday, outscoring the Thunder's Russell Westbrook in the point guard battle (Westbrook had 20).
And then he dropped the mic with this shirt.
Thanks for all the love on my PJ shirt, get yours at https://t.co/mDMQdEK9tH
@richgirlcandy @ziptanks pic.twitter.com/nHrxG53pw9
— Derrick Rose (@drose) November 6, 2015
During last year's postseason, the two-year-old Derrick Rose Jr. (now 3) become a meme sitting on his father's lap in a press conference. Now, the meme is on his dad's shirt.
When they ask your Dad if Chicago can possibly win in Cleveland.... pic.twitter.com/VdD49eq5GB
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) May 10, 2015
Rose had only tweeted once in the past calendar year, supporting Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol for the NBA Community Assist Award. His rare social media activity is not meant to troll anyone, but the result of a business development. Rose is working with ZipTank, a clothing brand developed by former Shark Tank contestant Kaeya Majmundar. ZipTank has a supply of Derrick Jr.-themed items, and Majmundar teased the gear before Thursday's game.
#GAMEDAY PROMO! Buy this bundle TODAY to win a #drose autographed poster. #Christmas gift. https://t.co/zWzRe7b82h pic.twitter.com/mVvdclPEMg
— Kaeya Majmundar (@kaeyosinc) November 5, 2015
But she could not have expected Rose to score a season-high 29 points after going for single digits the past three games. That was all Rose.
And if the Bulls really are trying to breakup with Chicago's first son, the former MVP made them think twice on Thursday.