Taj Gibson commented on Derrick Rose's retirement and now I'm crying again

As if Joakim Noah's heartwarming tribute to Derrick Rose wasn't enough to melt our hearts, Taj Gibson has now shared his reaction.

The long-time Chicago Bulls forward is 39 years old and is about to enter the 16th year of his NBA career. Signed to the Charlotte Hornets as a veteran leader, he stood at the podium at the team's media day this week and raved about his now-retired former teammate.

“Heartbroken, still heartbroken. I didn't really talk to many people. I haven't even had a chance to post anything yet. The last few days have been a blur. I'm honestly just staring at the wall… I'm just trying to put it all together because I know him from a mental standpoint, he's one of the toughest guys in the league.

For him to actually stop… I cried a lot,” Gibson admitted (h/t Jerry Donatien). “I shed a lot of tears because in this league you have to make so many sacrifices to get to this point. I just think back over all the years and all the games and remember how young we were. We go back to each other's houses and are still thinking about life and putting it together. Where he is now, how gracefully he is able to step back, yeah man, it hurts. It still does.”

While Gibson and Rose spent most of their time together competing at the top of the East in Chicago, their paths crossed several more times. The two played together in Minnesota for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons before teaming up again for a few seasons with the New York Knicks in 2020-21. Considering the amount of time spent in the locker room over the years, it's no surprise that Rose's announcement tugged at Gibson's heart.

The good news for Gibson is that he will be able to celebrate Rose's career along with the rest of Chicago later this season. The Hornets have no game scheduled for January 4, 2025. This is currently the rumored date for a Derrick Rose farewell party at the United Center.