Congratulations to Rose! Bulls No. 1 jersey will be retired, becoming the 5th person in team history to receive this honor, shoulder to shoulder with Jordan and Pippen!
On January 5th, Beijing time, the Bulls officially announced that they will retire Derrick Rose's No. 1 jersey during the 25-26 season, with the specific date to be formally announced later. The Bulls stated, "Our No. 1 is forever from Chicago."
Team President and CEO Michael Reinsdorf shared this news with Rose face-to-face in Chicago on Saturday morning, local time. Below is the official statement made by Michael Reinsdorf on behalf of the Bulls:
"Derrick is not only a hometown hero but also a symbol of the entire Bulls basketball era," Jerry Reinsdorf said. "Retiring a jersey is recognition of a player's influence beyond their achievements on the court. It honors those who have made outstanding contributions to the team and established a deep and lasting connection with the fans. It acknowledges the emotional bond and significant impact players have on the team and its image. 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."
"Derrick's talent is extraordinary, but what impresses me most is how he maintains humility and expresses himself through basketball games." Michael Reinsdorf said. "Watching Derrick play as a player is exciting, but getting to know Derrick privately is an honor. His achievements both on and off the court make him truly unique. His connection with the Bulls in Chicago is undeniable, and over time, this connection will only become more solid and profound. Seeing Derrick watch his jersey rise to the court, surrounded by family, friends, and fans who mean so much to him, will be an exciting moment."
Rose, a native of Chicago, was selected by the Bulls with the first overall pick in the 08 draft and then officially started his career, eventually winning the Rookie of the Year award in his rookie season. Rose played for the Bulls for 8 seasons, creating one of the most glorious careers in Bulls history. Rose has been selected to the All-Star team three times and became the youngest regular-season MVP in league history during the 10-11 season, also being selected to the All-NBA First Team that season. In the 10-11 season, Rose led the Bulls to a league-best record of 62 wins and 20 losses, leading the team to the Eastern Conference Finals. Rose led the Bulls to the playoffs seven consecutive times from 09 to 15.
Rose played 406 regular-season games for the Bulls, averaging 19.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game. Rose's average assists rank third in team history, and his average points rank ninth. He is one of two players in Bulls history to score at least 2,000 points and 600 assists in a single season (the other is Michael Jordan, which happened in the 88-89 season), and in the 10-11 season, Rose averaged 25 points and 7.7 assists.
Rose was traded by the Bulls in the 16 offseason, officially parting ways with the Bulls, and then spent the next eight seasons playing for the Knicks, Cavaliers, Timberwolves, Pistons, Knicks, and Grizzlies. He officially announced his retirement in the 24 offseason, ending his 16-season career, and the basketball story of the Windy City Rose came to a close. To commemorate Rose, Chicago has designated January 4, 2025, as Rose Day.
Rose will become the fifth player in Bulls history to receive the honor of having his jersey retired, following Jerry Sloan (No. 4), Bob Love (No. 10), Michael Jordan (No. 23), and Scottie Pippen (No. 33). In addition, the Bulls also responded to the league's call in 2022, retiring the No. 6 jersey of legendary veteran Russell, and banners honoring former coach Phil Jackson and former general manager Jerry Krause hang in the rafters of the arena.