
Derrick Rose Picks Isiah Thomas Over Michael Jordan—Here’s Why That Choice Hits Different
I still remember when Derrick Rose, our Chicago kid who became NBA MVP, dropped a line that stopped me cold: My GOAT is Isiah Thomas. Not Michael Jordan. Not LeBron. Zeke. That moment stuck with me—not because it was shocking, but because it hit something deeper about identity, grit, and what greatness really means.
I sat back, wondering what made him connect those dots. Rose isn’t big on hype. He’s known for letting his game speak—the kind of player who responds to the court, not the noise. So when he said:
“My GOAT now is Isiah Thomas because he’s from Chicago. The only guy who beat Magic, Mike, and Bird all in their prime at 6‑3… Chicago’s way of doing things. I used to say MJ, but I’m not a two-guard. I don’t score like him at all.”
That wasn’t bravado. That was connection.
Because when Rose grew up in Chicago, chasing dreams through snow and wind, the blueprint he saw wasn’t Jordan soaring. It was Thomas leading, scrapping, winning without the flash. It was the Bad Boys Pistons—Detroit’s rough-and-tumble crew—knocking down all those giants and carving their own legend.
A Chicago Connection We All Feel
Imagine standing on a cold Chicago court, weathered rims, worn paint, kids huddled tight against the wind. That’s where both Rose and Thomas started. Even if their paths diverged, that city spirit remained the same—the grit, the fight, the sense of being overlooked by bigger cities and global headlines.
Rose walked into the NBA and became a star at 22. He carried the weight, earned MVP, but also felt the pressure of injuries and expectations. Thomas walked in a generation before, leading a team of underdogs to two straight titles—and knocking off Jordan, Magic, and Bird along the way.
That’s what Rose means when he says “Chicago’s way of doing things.” It’s heart, not hype.
And let’s be real—this wasn’t an anti-Jordan jab. Rose said he once admired Jordan’s story. He said he said MJ because he was hooked by the name, the story. But once he found someone whose game felt more like his, someone who beat legends without fitting the mold, that clicked. It wasn’t about who’s better. It was about who he saw himself in.
Fans got it too. On Reddit, someone wrote:
“My GOAT now is Isiah Thomas because he’s from Chicago. The only guy who beat Magic, Mike, and Larry Bird all in their prime at 6‑3.”
You saw stories of Thomas gutting out a game on a broken ankle. His team pushing back against the era’s giants. That Pistons steel-core, hall-of-mind—those moments resonated more than any stat sheet.
Even Jordan offered respect. In The Last Dance, MJ called Thomas the second-best point guard ever, even if he joked about hating him during their battles. That kind of praise doesn’t come lightly.

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Why This Debates Matters Today
There’s a reason this hit hard. We often talk about GOATs in stats or rings. But Rose reminds us greatness isn’t just visible in trophies—it’s visible in spirit and struggle. Thomas had more than his share of both.
When fighters rise, they need someone who fought like they did. Rose found refuge in Thomas—someone who stood tall at 6‑3, defied expectations, and broke molds without big-city polish.
Look around now. Sports fans spot the superstar on the highlight reel. But the real fans? They feel the grind. Emotion matters. And when someone says, “I’m rooting for the guy who fought like me,” that carries a lesson for all of us.
Rose didn’t pick Thomas out of nowhere. He picked him because he matched at a core level. Style. Heart. City. Dream.
And you don’t need to replace Jordan in your top five. But maybe pull a Thomas card out of your heart and give respect where it’s due.
I won’t lie—I love Jordan’s fadeaway, his championships. But this Rose moment reminded me: great stories aren’t only about domination. They’re about identity, about hope, about trailblazers who made their own lane.
Is Isiah Thomas the GOAT? Depends on who’s asking. For Derrick Rose, and anyone who grew up under Chicago’s weight, he might just be the one who made greatness look attainable.