As expected, the Bulls announced on Saturday afternoon that Derrick Rose will have his jersey retired next season, joining Jerry Sloan (No. 4), Bob Love (No. 10), Michael Jordan (No. 23), and Scottie Pippen (No. 33).
Details of that 2025-26 ceremony will be announced at a later date, but with “Derrick Rose Night” going down at the United Center this evening, the organization wanted to get what was a burning question the last month out of the way.
Team president & CEO Michael Reinsdorf shared the news with Rose face-to-face Saturday morning.
“Derrick is both a hometown hero and a symbol of an entire era of Bulls basketball,” Reinsdorf said in a statement. “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. 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.”
Why so long to reach that decision? According to a source, there was serious discussion on former Bull and three-time NBA Champion Toni Kukoc getting his No. 7 retired first. After weeks of discussion, however, ownership decided to go ahead and announce the Rose No. 1 jersey as the next one up in the rafters.