PRIME Derrick Rose only let his performance make all the noise.
He barely talked, even after he turned heads as the NBA’s youngest MVP and the Chicago Bulls’ face of the franchise.
Known for being reserved, there aren’t many accounts of his mentality apart from his Cinderella story, raised by a single mother on the poor side of Chi-town.
But soon after he retired in 2024, Rose did a lot of thinking about where his trajectory was going and what could be his next calling.
READ: Derrick Rose immerses in Filipino culture during Cebu visit
On his second visit to the Philippines in 2026, both arranged by ArenaPlus, Rose took the time to experience another basketball hotbed in the country in Cebu.
Greeted by huge crowds everywhere he went, D. Rose found answers to some of those questions by simply going through the journey and seeing just how much his mere presence inspired Filipinos.
“The reason why I retired is so I could do this. I know my journey now, and it’s about God, and so my role is to put a spotlight on him cause without him, I wouldn’t be here to experience this,” he during the Champion’s Circle dinner celebration in Mactan.
Rose grew up a Christian and was known for his ‘In Jesus’ Name I Play’ band. That religious quality is one of the things a lot of Cebuanos resonate with.
Having been to the Philippines more than four times, including twice in just eight months this year, Rose said side quests like this one allowed him to ponder his purpose.
Generously sharing his tips, Derrick shed light on two significant things he owed his whole life to: discipline and delusion.
“Discipline is what got me so far. [It’s what you need] if you want to be good and great. A little bit of discipline [accumulates], but the consistency part? How long can you stay disciplined, I had to do that my whole career,” he shared. “I have to figure out my routine, I have to figure out when I’m going to sacrifice.”
Rose, who is also a chess player, said the mental sport trained him in decision-making, too.
“I play chess, and I think about what’s my next move. Growing up, I didn’t really go out like that like my peers, can’t go to concerts, those are my sacrifices. If you are disciplined and you give your all, you will be grateful later in your lie,” he continued.
Apart from discipline, it’s also a requirement for Rose to be a little obsessed with what he wants to happen.
“You have to be delusional, sometimes only you can see that vision, your parents aren’t gonna see it they’re just gonna believe, but you have to know. You had Kobe say: ‘If you’re not delusional, how can you put yourself along the greats, all the greats are delusional,’” he explained.
He even owed his biggest career feat to that mindset.
“Being able to train that delusion, getting into situations where you’re insane, once you get to that dream, you’re gonna see it. Once I said I’m going be an MVP, and people didn’t believe me until they saw it happen.”
Quite a sweetheart roaming around every place he graced in his Philippine tour, Rose shared he’d do anything to spark that motivation in anybody.
“I play as hard as I could, you only get these from giving you all, for me to come here, they help me grow and mature even more, that’s why I’m taking pictures with everyone, every chance I get, that’s the least I could do,” he said.
As his journey started with his success doing all the talking, D.Rose hopes his story now can do the same; inspiring the next generation to dream, stay disciplined, and be delusional.
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