‘Is that fair?’… What Derrick Rose thought of Chicago Bulls CEO’s exception for jersey retirement

Chicago Bulls CEO Michael Reinsdorf told Derrick Rose about his jersey retirement

In just his third year with the Bulls, D-Rose was named the league’s most valuable player. He became the youngest to do so in NBA history, a record that is still untouched.

Under Rose’s leadership, the Bulls dominated the Eastern Conference, but the athletic superstar’s career was soon derailed by injuries.

By 2014, Rose was a shell of himself, and the Bulls eventually decided to trade him to the New York Knicks in 2016. Rose spent the rest of his career as a role player for various teams and announced his retirement in 2024.

Following the announcement, Bulls CEO Michael Reinsdorf surprised the former No. 1 overall pick on his jersey retirement.

“I’m telling you right now, next year when we retire your number in the rafters, it’s going to be more about you than the fans,” Reinsdorf said in January 2025.

Almost immediately, Rose broke down in tears, showing what the decision meant to him. At the time, no date was specified for when Rose would receive that honor.

Well, the Bulls have now confirmed that Rose’s jersey is all set to go into the rafters on January 24, 2026.

Michael Reinsdorf promised that only one person may wear Derrick Rose’s jersey in the future

For context, Rose wore #1 with the Bulls, and that’s the jersey that will be retired. However, Reinsdorf named one condition under which they may allow someone to wear that retired jersey number.

“Nobody’s wearing that number one jersey again unless PJ is a Bull, then he’s wearing that number one jersey, alright? Is that fair?” Reinsford said.

PJ is Rose’s son, who will turn 13 years old this year. So, if he decides to take basketball as a career, PJ will have to wait for at least six more years to be draft eligible.

This means the earliest he can be drafted is the 2032 NBA Draft because PJ’s birthday falls in October. Until then, D-Rose’s jersey will hang in the rafters alongside the likes of Jordan and Scottie Pippen.