The iconic moment of Derrick Rose immortalizing himself alongside Michael Jordan at the United Center

The Chicago Bulls retired Derrick Rose's number 1 jersey on Saturday night after their 106-103 victory over the Boston Celtics, in an event filled with emotion and memories for the player's hometown.

Rose was visibly moved throughout the ceremony, wiping away tears as his former teammates Taj Gibson and Luol Deng delivered opening remarks. Later, Rose himself gave an emotional speech paying tribute to his mother Brenda, his brothers, some present former teammates, and the crowd that filled the United Center, remaining in their seats over an hour after the game.

With this honor, Rose became the fifth player in Bulls history to have his number retired, joining Jerry Sloan (No. 4), Bob Love (No. 10), Michael Jordan (No. 23), and Scottie Pippen (No. 33). Additionally, the team has banners honoring former coach Phil Jackson and former general manager Jerry Krause.

"This journey was never about me," Rose said before the game. "It was about creating a synergy that the people of the city could draw from. And, in some way, I was that beacon or that vehicle for that, through basketball."

Despite the cold temperatures in Chicago, fans lined up hours before the game to get a close look at the night's protagonist. Every seat at the United Center was draped with a black jersey bearing Rose's name and number, and Bulls players wore the same jersey during the pre-game warm-up.

Rose took to the court approximately an hour before the game, as fans tried to take photos and videos. The player worked out with his son while family members and former teammates lined the baseline and center court.

"I’m still trying to process this whole moment," Rose expressed. "I just feel grateful. Knowing the weather conditions were tough and yet people came out is huge."

A Chicago orchestra performed the team's introduction theme, "SIRIUS" by Alan Parsons Project, to kick off the post-game festivities, while fans chanted "M-V-P, M-V-P" throughout the night. Several current Bulls players, including Coby White, Josh Giddey, Zach Collins, and rookie Noa Essengue, returned to the bench to witness the ceremony.

Following his game-winning three-pointer with a second left, guard Kevin Huerter mentioned thinking of diving onto his teammates, a nod to Rose's celebration after his game-winning shot in the 2015 playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Chicago native Rose played eight seasons with the Bulls after being the number 1 draft pick in 2008. He was named Rookie of the Year in the 2008-09 season, participated in three All-Star Games, and in 2011 became the youngest MVP in NBA history.

A year ago, Rose expressed his desire for his jersey retirement to be a celebration for everyone. On Saturday, he reiterated that sentiment, acknowledging the role of fans in the connection that was forged in the city.

"It was about all those who found a way to come to my games," said Rose. "In some way, we had a vibration that connected us... It's no coincidence that all of this is happening and the people who watched me play are here today."

Although the Bulls had previously honored Rose in January after his retirement at the start of the 2024-25 season, the organization decided to wait to conduct a special retirement ceremony.

Unforgettable Moment

"We wanted to honor him, but we needed time to plan something truly special," said Bulls President Michael Reinsdorf. "We could have done it last year, but I think this is the right way: giving him time to prepare and us to organize a great day."

After the game, a video was projected on the big screen featuring messages from former teammates, NBA stars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Rose's family and friends, and Chicago citizens, all speaking about his impact on their lives and the city.

About 20 former teammates were present. Rose watched the game from a suite alongside players such as Gibson, Deng, Joakim Noah, Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, and coach Tom Thibodeau. Noah shared that the group had gathered the night before the ceremony until the early hours.

"On many nights, in many tough moments, he was there for me," Gibson told the fans. "He was that reassuring teammate who always said 'I got you'."

Rose had seen the banner with his number days before the ceremony and mentioned it was “surreal,” though he was still trying to process his emotions. For the organization, however, the banner’s presence held a clear significance.

"Although we didn't win a championship, our fans truly loved that era of basketball in Chicago," Reinsdorf stated. "Derrick is from Chicago. He's one of us. He played for the city that saw him grow and that he loved."

"This is forever," Deng added. "When they talk about all the minutes, all the injuries, and everything we went through, that's our trophy. That's our trophy."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El momentazo de Derrick Rose inmortalizándose junto a Michael Jordan en el United Center