Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - Bill Wennington talks 'touching' Derrick Rose jersey retirement ceremony

Episode Date: January 26, 2026

Leila Rahimi and Marshall Harris were joined by Bulls Radio analyst Bill Wennington to reflect on the organization retiring franchise icon Derrick Rose’s No. 1 jersey in a ceremony Saturday at the United Center.

Rahimi Harrison Brody, midday's 10 a.m. to 2 on Chicago Sports Radio 670 to score. The only thing you do is foul, and you don't want to do that. White and play, Pritchard touch shot, and it's no good, but again, you can't take that shot. And the ball game is over. Bulls win! Bulls win! Bulls win! This crowd on their feet. And it just started, folks, with Derek Rose around the corner. But the Bulls earned this game, 11, 11 on a Kevin Hurder left. One or three ball. Take that, Peyton Pritchard.

This is Rehemi Harrison Grotie on 670 to score. I don't know why Peyton Pritchard deserved to stray. I have no idea. Nah, they beat them at their own game. You want to see threes? Here's a three for you. Take it with you. Step back.

How about the extra pass by Kobe White, too? I love a good extra pass. It was a well-designed play on an in-bounds with the game on the line. And I love it. Yes, it was on an in-bounds play. I also loved that part. Thank you for reminding me. This is Rahimi-Harrison Grotie.

down 670 the score. And there's another person who likes all of these things. He joins us on the Circus Sports Illinois hotline. Download the Circus Sports app today. You heard Chuck Swersky and Bill Whittington there on the call. Bill Whittington is joining us. Hi, Bill. Leila Marshall,

pleasure to be on with you guys. And yes, I like extra passes as well, especially when they were to me. Everybody eats. That's the idea. What did you make of that last play? It was good play design. It was often inbound. and that was some good coaching and good execution.

It absolutely was. And the whole game was excellent. We had, you know, I was just going over the stats tonight because we got a game tonight. And I looked at the game. We had eight double figure scores and nine players played. And the one player who didn't score double figures would not be the guy you would think it was giddy. Only had four points. Now, everything else was he had 10 assists and I think six.

for seven rebounds and played well. But that last play was nice. Herder gets put in the game to inbound the ball. And I'm always very leery of inbounder plays. I even told Charlie, watch, you know, Kevin, it's good that he's inbounding the ball because he could step right back in and get a shot. And that's pretty much what happened, although he did drop down to the corner a little bit. But just a nice, well, well, red play.

I mean, Kobe didn't fiddle with the ball at all. He knew that Herder was open right away. and the defense was adjusting, and he got it down to him in the corner, and game winner right there. It's a great play. Bill, the way that this team has played of late, you know, Trey Jones goes out, he's the hero of the Minnesota game, and now as we kind of approach the trade deadline, what, six games away,

it feels like they're starting to round into form, and they're going to give the front office some things to think about heading into this trade deadline, correct? Absolutely. they're playing real well and it's kind of weird the way the season's broken up right now and I was looking at that

there'll be after the not the trade deadline but after All-Star break there will be 27 games left so I kind of broke down the season for the first 27 games then there's 28 games till the All-Star break last game being Boston

and the Bulls started off 12 and 50 in the first 27 games I believe there'll be 15 and 12 or 15 and 12 by the all, then the middle 27 games, which we're in right now. But they're playing so well right now. Obviously with a four game win streak going on, the offense is flowing. The defense is better.

I mean, really, we're not a good defensive team, but it's better than it has been. And obviously when you're shooting the three well, which is what we've done, the last four games. And you guys talked about it just before I came, on. We beat Boston at their own game shooting threes. And if we're hitting our threes, I really honestly believe we can compete with any team

in the NBA. And Billy Donovan made reference to it a game or two ago when it's pregame that we have to do it together. And if we do do it together, like the other night in Boston, how do you beat us? Because everyone can score. We had eight guys in double figure scoring, nine guys played. and Giddy normally scores double figures, but it's just the second game back. He's still getting back into the rhythm of the game, not really playing his full complement of minutes yet.

And it's really going to give the front office some pause to think and say, hey, you know, what's really going on with this team right now? We're talking to Bill Winnington, the Bulls Radio Network analyst, and three-time NBA champion here on Rahimi Harrison-Rody on 670, the score. It was a moving tribute to Derek Rose at the United Center after the game for his Jersey retirement ceremony. Bill, what were your takeaways? I just thought his speech to not only his teammates, but his family was so incredibly profound. Oh, absolutely. I mean, he was really, I mean, personal information that was given. I mean, some of the things he talked about as brothers and what they meant to him,

but some of the things that they were going through. His mom, how much she meant to him, and, you know, his, really is life's story, and part of it really personal and heartfelt. You can see that he was very emotional. His teammates, when they spoke, were really emotional, and you could see the love that they all have for the game, but each other, but especially Derek,

and that tribute to his family, and just what they mean to him, his mom, his brothers, and then his wife and kids as well. So very touching. I thought it was very well done. I've been privy to go to three banner raisings now, Michael, Scotties, and now Derek's. And all touching, but that was the most heartfelt and the most emotional one of all. And Derek just made it that way and really a tribute to him for what he did and said at that

and the respect that he has for everyone around, and Bulls really did a phenomenal job. It was actually, there were 22,000 plus people at the game, and I believe every one of them stayed. Every seat was filled, and it was very emotional. Bill, it kind of brought, you know, another level of the love this city has for Derek Rose. When you try to describe to someone who's either not from here or didn't live through it the way that you did, what would you say was the Derek Rose era embodied?

Well, it really is where the city had one of their own, be that successful, and really carry a team for the whole time he was here and was the face of the city. And it's really great when that happens because a lot of teams have stars. And we had Michael Jordan here for so many years. years and it was phenomenal and and i don't want to compare the tour or or say it but michael was you know from north carolina and when you can say from chicago and that's what derrick was how he was introduced that means a lot to the people of chicago they're born and raised here lived up through the hardships on the south side and derrick brought reference to that uh in his talk in his speech

and you know he overcame all the odds and he did some really great great things for this team. And that's going to be remembered now forever up in the rafters at the United Center for the Bulls now. And it really does mean that much to see. And it's always going to. Bill, what did you think about just the celebration of that team, too, you know, to be such a teammate and have Taj Gibson and Lou Aldang and Tom Thibito speak the way they did? How can you speak to how much of a tight-knit group that group of Bulls is? it you know it really was that tight and those guys you could see the love that they have for each other that they got choked up and the way they revered uh that i was going to say poo i guess i

could say poo yeah Derek but but the way they revered him and what he meant to them and how they all interacted together and that that's why that team was successful and the most successful teams that i've been on in my life have been close next to teams like that where guys really cared about each other and treated each other as family and worked together because you didn't want to let each other down. And you can see that in them and how they loved each other and talked about each other. And even Tom Thibito speaking about Derek and that team, every time they talked about it, it's always with love as family. And it is so neat to see that. And that's why that's why that's

team was successful. I wonder, Bill, tonight's game, the Lakers, could be the last time we see LeBron in Chicago. Do you say that hopingly or? Well, no, just realistically, right? The man's been playing basketball forever.

How do you really feel? Come on, tell me. No, you know what? I feel like I have marveled at this man's ability to just keep coming back season after season and realizing every time he comes back, he doesn't look like a guy who's done. You know?

Yeah. Yeah. I agree with that. And just one of the stats I was looking at just a little while ago as I prepared for the game is, I think he's third in the league in fast break points at 41 years old. It's insane. Really? Like how?

Like what? I mean, that's just when you think about that, it's like, wow. One of the oldest guy, were really the oldest guy in the league right now and just still getting down the floor and third in the league and fast break points. That's pretty amazing. So the longevity of his career and for, you know, it's not like he's a role player playing, you know, 10 minutes a game. He's played 30 plus minutes a game his whole career.

So it really is when you look at it that way, an amazing feat. And honestly, with what he does, I mean, he's on a good team now. He's, you know, arguably, you know, you could argue that he's still the best player. I don't think so. I think the guys, Lukic is always, obviously, I think he's better, and Reeves is stepping up, but he's got some help and played well. And if he can accept that role, I mean, he could still play for another few years because he still adds to what any team could do if he takes that role as maybe a secondary or even third player on a team. But, you know, what he does and the knowledge that he has and how he can help a team is still amazing. He averaged 8.2 assists a game over 70 games last year. It's just ridiculous.

But he makes guys better. That's what great players do. And I think the assist number speaks to that. Bill, thank you so much for joining us. We appreciate the time. Thanks, Bill. Alato. Marshall, always a pleasure.

Anytime. And don't forget, you can listen to Bill tonight. They host, as we mentioned, the Bulls are hosting LeBron James, Luca Donchich, and the Lakers at the United States. center. Pre-game coverage begins at 645, tip-off is at seven on the score in the Fitzgerald equipment Bulls Radio Network powered by Heli Forklifts. We thought about the weather that affected the AFC championship game yesterday. And it was brought up talking about the weather and how that will help some teams looks outside in Chicago. But it will also cause a lot of other teams to want to

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