Derrick Rose 'Would Love' to Have Bulls Jersey Retired, Doesn't Want Statue
January 3, 2025
Derrick Rose "would love" to see his No. 1 jersey retired by the Chicago Bulls, but not to see his statue outside United Center.
"I would love that. That's more me if they would do it," Rose said when asked about jersey retirement by ESPN's Shams Charania.
Rose then added in a plea to Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf and CEO Michael Reinsdorf, according to Charania.
"The way people have been creating these statues, I don't want a statue," he said. "No statue. Jerry, no statue. Please, Michael, no statue."
Rose played seven seasons for the Bulls between 2008 and 2016. His 2024 retirement from the NBA is being celebrated by the Bulls ahead of Saturday night's game against the New York Knicks.
The Bulls and Knicks are honoring Rose's No. 1 on Saturday, albeit in a less official capacity, with shooting shirts worn by players on both teams.
The shirts will display the numbers "1.4.25," marking both the date and Rose's numbers with the Bulls, New York Knicks and as a high school player, according to the team.
The Bulls have retired just four players' numbers since the franchise's 1966 founding, most recently granting Scottie Pippen the honor in 2005.
Rose's number is already unofficially on that list, given that multiple Bulls players have received fan backlash for attempting to wear No. 1 since he left the franchise.
Michael Carter-Williams and Anthony Borrow both originally planned to wear No. 1 following trades to the Bulls during the 2016-17 season, and both ultimately cited fan controversy in their decisions to switch to other numbers.
Rose lived up to the hype surrounding his place atop the 2008 draft by winning the NBA's Rookie of the Year award in 2009.
He then became the youngest MVP in NBA history when he capped off his 2010-11 season by earning the honor at 22 years old.
After injuries including a 2012 ACL tear impacted his career, Rose was traded by the Bulls and went on to play for the Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies before announcing his retirement in September.
The Bulls are the most likely of all those teams to honor Rose's career following his retirement after 16 NBA seasons.
Perhaps because of the controversy surrounding the appearance of the Dwyane Wade sculpture recently installed outside the Miami Heat's Kaseya Center, Rose is hoping those honors don't include a statue.
