“It was an honor, a privilege, and a real pleasure sharing the court with you.” Joakim Noah’s message for Derrick Rose on his retirement reflected how high Jo held D-Rose as a teammate, friend, and a player.

We all know that D-Rose’s Flash-like speed and Noah’s Captain Atom-like energy made them one of the most dynamic duos in the league. But if you followed their off the court interactions, you’d know about their deep bond too. And it resurfaced during Jo’s recent speech for his former teammate from the Chicago Bulls.

As reported by Bulls insider, KC Johnson, emotions ran high when Noah spoke about D-Rose.

“Derrick Rose was moved to tears when Joakim Noah just said this in on-court ceremony: “You always put your city on your back and you carried that with you. You’re not only the MVP, Pooh. You’re the people’s champ,”” Johnson wrote on X.

Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah weren’t just teammates; they were leaders who pushed the Bulls to 5 playoff appearances in their 8 seasons together. Yes, they even reunited briefly with the Knicks. But let’s be honest—the magic was in Chicago. And yet, isn’t it bittersweet to think about what could have been?

Without Rose’s injuries during season 2013, could the Jo-Pooh duo have brought a championship to the Windy City? While fans still wonder, the 3x All Star himself seems at peace. When asked recently about those what-ifs, his response might surprise you.

“That’s something I really don’t think about,” Rose admitted, adding that such conversations haven’t crossed his mind in years. Instead, he reflected on how those setbacks shaped him beyond the game.

“I was obsessed with the game, not love. I was obsessed. So if I would have won one championship, I would have won it four… It would have pulled me further and further away from finding self-knowledge, self-revelation, identity,” he shared. The perspective from Derrick Rose is a reminder that every player’s journey is unique. “Coming from Chicago, we rolled with the punches,” he said, embracing the resilience that defined not just his career but his life. And yes, he and Noah could not get that ultimate win on the court, but their friendship did.

Joakim Noah was the officiator at Derrick Rose’s wedding

Noah, officiating a wedding? That’s not exactly what one might expect from the fiery, passionate former Bulls star. Yet, when D-Rose asked his long-time teammate to officiate his wedding, Jo couldn’t say no. Reflecting on the experience during his stint with NBC Sports Chicago’s commentating team alongside Stacey King and Adam Amin during the Grizzlies-Bulls game, Noah couldn’t help but laugh at his own nerves.

“I’m not gonna lie to you guys I was nervous as hell,” Noah joked. “I’ve never done that before, but I had to do that for Pooh. Really happy I got to do that.” 

Rose and his longtime girlfriend, Alaina Anderson, said their I dos last September in a breathtaking ceremony in Beverly Hills. Family, friends, and even former Bulls teammate Taj Gibson gathered to celebrate their love.

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But this wasn’t just a one-sided gesture from Jo. Yep, Noah’s heartfelt role was a fitting return for Rose’s own unique contribution to Jo’s wedding in 2022, when the 3x All Star served as a photographer. A rare kind of friendship, yes. Noah summed it up perfectly during an interview. “He’s been my little brother since Day 1.” So his speech, as reported by KC Johnson, and D-Rose’s reaction, should come as no surprise.