Derrick Rose will have his jersey in the rafters in three months, solidifying his legendary status. Over the years, the youngest MVP in league history has left his mark by mentoring the next generation. Knicks’ Jalen Brunson and Grizzlies’ Ja Morant, among others, have been vocal about D-Rose’s impact. But there is also a sophomore from the Chicago Bulls, who is soaking it in and learning from Pooh.

“Yeah, I mean, I ask a lot of players a lot of questions. I can go, I mean, there’s a list. I’d say I talked to D Rose about his mentality.” After being instrumental in the Bulls’ first preseason game, Matas Buzelis spoke to the media. The lottery pick of the 2024 draft wants to make the most of his career after his rookie season. He reached out to many for that, but Derrick Rose stood out. After all, the 37-year-old knows the pressure of expectation and what the Bulls crowd demands from the player born and raised in Chicago.

“Um, I texted him like just to just to see how he approached his second year. And uh the pressure what what he thought of it. So, I mean, I ask a lot of players a lot of questions. So, it’s it’s a list.” Alongside Giddey and Coby White, the Bulls have a young roster. They are in the retooling phase, yet the demands to perform always remain in the Windy City. Buzelis, being 6-foot-10, is an athletic forward who can guard the rim and even three or four different positions.

Matas Buzelis has never hidden his admiration for Derrick Rose. After being selected 11th overall- by his hometown team, no less- the Chicago native was both emotional and grateful. “I’m very grateful. I worked really hard to get here. I just can’t thank the Bulls organization enough. This means the world. Me being born and raised there, it just makes it so much better. It means everything to me. I can’t even explain it,” he said shortly after draft night, per K.C. Johnson.

Buzelis cited Rose- “a big impact on Chicago basketball,” in his words- as his favorite Bull growing up. Interestingly, he also mentioned 2016 champion J.R. Smith as another player he admired. It’s easy to see how both influences show up in his game. Like Rose and Smith, Buzelis brings a smoothness and flair to his style- an effortless rhythm mixed with explosive athleticism that feels right at home in Chicago’s basketball lineage.

No doubt, the 20-year-old will have to have a breakthrough year if they have any shot at making the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. Last season as a rookie, he almost cracked the rotation. His numbers were 8.6 minutes, but when he was a starter, that increased to 13 points per game on top of making a real impact on the defensive end. We even saw flashes of it during the first preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Remember last season, it was the Cavs who came out on top 4-0 during the regular season. At least, in the recent preseason game, the Bulls won the close encounter (118-117). In the end, Buzelis proved to be the difference maker. The 20-year-old ended the night as the top scorer and rebounder alongside his efficient shooting of 7-11. He has the skill set to be a real two-way monster.

Buzelis finished with 19 points and eight rebounds, connecting on two of his five 3-point attempts in 18 minutes. He was either boxing out hard near the basket or flying in from the perimeter to snatch the ball. That’s why the Chicago crowd is hoping a lot from their young star to bring back the glory days, similar to the time Derrick Rose did.

Other stars in the league express their love for Derrick Rose

The last time Chicago saw the championship was in the Michael Jordan era. But it was during the D-Rose era that the team reached the Eastern Conference Finals stage in 2010-11. It was the same year Pooh won the only MVP of his career, as he started all 82 games and ended up with 25 points per game. His contributions off the court left a bigger impact on others’ lives.

“I can’t put it into words,” Brunson said of the Knicks being the Bulls’ opponent for Rose night, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “I’m so thankful to have him as a role model, as a mentor. That’s my man and I love him to death.” They might have played just one season with the Knicks, but the relationship goes way back, from the time when Rick Brunson was part of Tom Thibodeau’s Bulls. Even current Grizzlies star, Ja Morant, had nothing but praise for Pooh.

“He [Rose] spoke on some of the stuff he went through, and we shared similar stuff, you know, growing up and all… (He showed) how I carry myself now, and what I do around the organization.” Just a few players who have cited the positive influence of D-Rose in their lives. Imagine what Buzelis can learn and implement from Derrick Rose, a Chicago native, who went on to become a franchise legend.