Rose not bothered by boos in Bulls return

Derrick Rose left behind a complicated legacy during his eight years with the Chicago Bulls, and his reception during Friday's return to the United Center reflected that.

Bulls fans gave an ovation when Rose and Joakim Noah were honored before tipoff, but after the game started, a segment of fans in Chicago booed Rose each time he touched the ball.

Rose wasn't surprised by the mixed reaction and took it all in stride as his New York Knicks walked away with a much-needed win.

"It was all fun, man. I love competing," Rose told Ian Begley of ESPN. "I love when the crowd is into it. I knew it was going to be some yells. I knew there was going to be some boos. I'm from here. I'm used to it. I've been getting it ever since I was in sixth grade, going on the West Side of Chicago and playing and me being a South Side. I'm used to it."

Watch: Bulls welcome Rose, Noah with touching tribute video

With Rose as their leader for eight seasons, Chicago soared to daring heights and plummeted to haunting lows.

The Bulls landed the first overall pick through sheer lottery luck, then watched the hometown kid in Rose blossom into the youngest MVP in NBA history. His ascension carried the Bulls out of its post-Jordan mediocrity and the team looked poised to contend for championships with Rose as its leading man.

But then came the injuries that dogged Rose for years. The franchise stood at a frustrating stasis while the player rehabbed, but the situation was only made clear after the window for contention had closed as knee injuries appeared to ground Rose for good. His insensitive comments with regard to his recovery (most famously when he cited not wanting to limp at his son's graduation) did not alleviate tensions.

Watch: Rose, Noah get emotional celebrating homecoming win over Bulls

Hence, Rose returned as an opponent for the first time on Friday to both boos and cheers, a fitting reflection of the good and bad times that fans endured with Rose as their leader.