Chicago Bulls to retire Derrick Rose’s No. 1 jersey
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Former Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose addresses the media before a game between the Bulls and the New York Knicks at the United Centre on Jan 4.
PHOTO: AFP
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CHICAGO – The Chicago Bulls will retire former National Basketball Association (NBA) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Derrick Rose’s No. 1 jersey, the team said on Jan 4.
Rose, 36, had announced his retirement from the league over social media on Sept 26.
The retirement ceremony will be held in the 2025-26 season, with the date to be announced later.
The No. 1 jersey has not been worn by a Bulls player since Rose was traded to the New York Knicks in 2016. Michael Carter-Williams and Anthony Morrow both wore the number briefly but switched after fan backlash.
Rose will be one of just five players in Bulls history to have his number retired, joining Jerry Sloan (No. 4), Bob Love (10), Michael Jordan (23) and Scottie Pippen (33).
The guard was selected by his hometown Bulls side with the top overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft and was named the 2008-09 Rookie of the Year.
At 22, Rose became the youngest player in league history to be named the NBA MVP during the 2010-11 season.
“Derrick is both a hometown hero and a symbol of an entire era of Bulls basketball,” Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement.
“Retiring a jersey recognises a player’s impact beyond on-court achievements. It honours individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the organisation and forged deep, lasting connections with fans.
“It recognises that emotional bond and the great influence a player has had on the team and organisation’s identity. 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.”
Chicago were 245-161 (.603) in games that Rose played.
In his MVP season, he led the Bulls to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 1998 – the final season of the Bulls’ second NBA championship three-peat.
Rose’s career took a turn for the worse after he tore an ACL during the first round of the 2012 play-offs. He sat out the following season and was limited to 10 games in 2013-14.
A three-time All-Star, he established career averages of 17.4 points, 5.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 723 career games (518 starts) with the Bulls (2008-16), the Knicks (2016-17, 2021-23), the Cleveland Cavaliers (2017-18), the Minnesota Timberwolves (2018-19), the Detroit Pistons (2019-21) and the Memphis Grizzlies (2023-24).
Injuries limited Rose to 24 games (seven starts) in 2023-24, and he averaged 8.0 points, 3.3 assists and 1.9 rebounds. REUTERS
