CHICAGO -- Derrick Rose received a huge ovation from Chicago Bulls fans during a break in Sunday's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals between Chicago and the Boston Celtics.
It marked the first time since Rose was traded last summer to the New York Knicks that Rose has come to a Bulls game as a fan.
"It's an honor," Rose told ESPN of the reaction he received from Chicago fans.
Rose, who will become a free agent this summer, averaged 18 points, 4.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds this season in his only season as a Knick. His season ended in early April after needing surgery to fix a torn meniscus in his left knee. It is the fourth major knee surgery Rose has undergone in the past five years.
"It's great," Bulls guard Dwyane Wade said of the reaction Rose received. "He's a Chicago guy. It's bigger than playing just for the Bulls. Obviously, he meant a lot to this organization, getting drafted here, winning an MVP here. All the things he did ... it was great the fans supported him that way. And all the former Bulls they put up [on the video board]."
At age 22, Rose became the youngest MVP in league history during the 2010-11 campaign at age 22, but his career was forever altered after a torn ACL in his left knee suffered in the first game of the 2012 Eastern Conference playoffs.
Rose was in good spirits on Sunday, taking in the game from a courtside seat underneath the Bulls' basket, with his young son, PJ. Rose also ran into Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf in an arena concourse in the fourth quarter, an exchange caught on camera by CBS 2 in Chicago.
Rose acknowledged that his rehab was going well and he was happy to be able to enjoy the playoff experience with his son. Rose admitted that after missing out on the playoffs the past two seasons with the Bulls and Knicks, he was appreciative of the electricity of the playoff atmosphere even more. Rose was spotted earlier in the week in Memphis at a Grizzlies/Spurs playoff game.
Rose was one of several former Bulls who received large cheers after being shown on the video board. Former Bulls Stacey King and Bill Wennington each received nice applause, followed by Rose, then Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant.