Derrick Rose will join a selected club in the Chicago Bulls organization along the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan, as well as legends Jerry Sloan, Scottie Pippen: his No. 1 jersey will officially be retired.
The Bulls president & CEO Michael Reinsdorf shared the news with Rose during an in-person conversation in Chicago on Saturday morning, stating that Rose is both a hometown hero and a symbol of an entire era of Bulls basketball.”
“Retiring a jersey recognizes a player’s impact beyond on-court achievements. It honors individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the organization and forged deep, lasting connections with fans. It recognizes that emotional bond and the great influence a player has had on the team and organization’s identity.” Reinsdorf said.
Rose was as special as Jordan, says former Bulls players
Ronald Stacey King is the Chicago Bulls’ lead color commentator and a former NBA player who won three consecutive championships with the Bulls from 1991 to 1993 while playing next to Michael Jordan on that incredible basketball team.
Clearly, King knows a thing or two about both Jordan and Rose and he didn’t mince words when it came to comparing both players as part of a special tribute video Chicago made to announce Derrick’s jersey retirement.
“That’s the Kobe, Michael type situation. You have to be special to be that kind of player and Derrick had that same kind of DNA that those guys had.” King said, adding that Rose was “special” because the player’s relationship with the team goes beyond the game of basketball: it was a Chicago impact.
“This is a kid who comes from humble beginnings, come from one of the toughest neighborhoods in Chicago (Englewood area). He was able to get through that.” King commented.
“Derrick’s talent was extraordinary, but what always impressed me most was how he remained humble and let his basketball play speak for him,” said Michael Reinsdorf. “To watch Derrick the player was a thrill, but to get to know Derrick the person was an honor. His accomplishments on and off the court are what made him truly special. His connection with Chicago was undeniable when he was here, and it has only grown stronger and more profound over time.”
The journey to greatness and the jersey retirement
Rose, the Bulls former No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and eventual Rookie of the Year winner, spent eight seasons in Chicago while amassing one of the most prolific careers in Bulls history.
A three-time NBA All-Star (2010, 2011, 2012), Rose became the youngest player in league history to win the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award in 2011 to go along with All-NBA First Team honors that season.
He guided the Bulls to the best record (62-20) in the NBA in 2010-11, consecutive seasons (2010-12) with the top record in the Eastern Conference and was a part of seven-straight NBA Playoff appearances for the Bulls from 2008-15.
The Chicago native played in 406 regular season games for his hometown team, posting career averages of 19.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists. Rose holds the third-highest assists per game average and ninth-highest scoring average in team history. He is one of two Bulls players (Michael Jordan, 1988-89) to record at least 2,000 points and 600 assists in a single season after recording clips of 25.0 points and 7.7 assists in 2010-11.