The Chicago Bulls have announced that they will retire former NBA MVP Derrick Rose’s No. 1 jersey on January 24, during a game against the Boston Celtics at the United Center.
Rose, 36, recently announced his retirement from the league via social media on September 26. Since Rose was traded to the New York Knicks in 2016, the No. 1 jersey has not been worn by any Bulls player. Although Michael Carter-Williams and Anthony Morrow were issued the number, they switched after facing backlash from fans.
With this honor, Rose will become the fifth player in Bulls history to have his number retired, joining the ranks of Jerry Sloan (No. 4), Bob Love (No. 10), Michael Jordan (No. 23), and Scottie Pippen (No. 33).
Selected by his hometown Bulls as the top overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Rose was named the 2008-09 Rookie of the Year. At just 22 years old, he became the youngest player in league history to win the NBA MVP award during the 2010-11 season. That year, he led the Bulls to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 1998, marking the end of the Bulls’ second NBA championship three-peat.
However, Rose’s career faced significant challenges after he tore his ACL during the first round of the 2012 playoffs. He missed the entire following season and was limited to just 10 games in the 2013-14 season.
A three-time All-Star, Rose finished his career with averages of 17.4 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.2 rebounds over 723 games (518 starts) with the Bulls, Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and Memphis Grizzlies. In the 2023-24 season, injuries limited him to 24 games (seven starts) with the Grizzlies, where he averaged 8.0 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.9 rebounds.
The retirement of Rose’s jersey is a testament to his impact on the franchise and the city of Chicago, celebrating his remarkable achievements and contributions to the game of basketball.
