The same week that fans lined up around the block for his pop-up flower shop before a screening of a documentary chronicling his career, the Chicago Bulls announced that former NBA MVP Derrick Rose would receive a prestigious honor.
Rose, who played for the Bulls from 2008 to 2016, will have his No. 1 jersey retired by the team next season, making Rose the fifth player in franchise history to have his jersey number hung in the rafters .
Other retired numbers in team history include #23 for Michael Jordan, #4 for Jerry Sloan, #10 for Bob Love and #33 for Scottie Pippen.
Rose was drafted first overall by the Bulls in 2008 and quickly became one of the league’s top talents.
OFFICIAL: The Bulls will retire Derrick Rose’s number during the 2025-26 NBA season. No other player will ever wear number 1 for the Chicago Bulls.
Number 1 will always be from Chicago. pic.twitter.com/s7z3J030WA
– Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 4, 2025
Winning Rookie of the Year in his first season in the NBA, Rose’s rapid rise continued until an MVP season in 2010-11 that saw Rose, then 22, leading his team to first place in the Eastern Conference while earning the honor of youngest MVP in NBA history.
A torn ACL in the opening game of the 2012 playoffs marked a long struggle with injuries that dominated headlines for much of the rest of his career, although it did not prevent Rose to experience some more great moments with the Bulls.
After missing the entire 2012-13 season and the vast majority of the 2013-14 season, Rose returned in 2014-15 and battled back from a mid-season injury to lead the Bulls to the second round of the NBA playoffs .
Perhaps Rose’s defining moment as a Bull, the franchise icon hit a three-pointer against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of their second-round series, giving the Bulls a 3-point lead at the time. 2-1 in the series.
Rose went on to play for the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies before announcing his retirement from the league ahead of the 2024-25 season.
“Derrick is both a local hero and a symbol of an entire era of Bulls basketball,” said President Jerry Reinsdorf. “Retiring a jersey recognizes a player’s impact beyond their on-field accomplishments. It honors individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the organization and forged deep, lasting connections with fans. He recognizes that emotional connection and the great influence a player has had on the identity of the team and the organization. We are proud to add Derrick to the elite group of players – Jerry Sloan, Bob Love, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen – whose jerseys have been officially retired by the Chicago Bulls,” said Michael Reinsdorf, president and CEO of the Chicago Bulls. Bulls.
NBC Chicago
