Michael Jordan was inducted into the Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor along with a host of teammates from his championship-winning days on the Bulls. Unfortunately, Jordan couldn't attend the event but he sent a video message to the fans and his fellow teammates who attended the induction ceremony.
"Good evening. I want to thank Michael and Jerry Reinsdorf for starting the Ring of Honor. I want to congratulate all the other recipients. I am so bummed I can't be there tonight, but I don't want that to stop the fun you guys are actually going to have. Believe me, I am very grateful and very honored."
Jordan then sent an emotional message to the fans, discussing how the perception of Chicago changed with their Bulls championships and how he wants to see more success for the franchise, calling himself a Bulls lifer.
"To the fans, you guys have supported me ever since I stepped foot in Chicago. Even today, I see a lot of Chicago fans all over, so I think we made an impression and changed what Chicago represents in terms of champions. Every time you look up in the rafters, I want you to always remember where we were and where we are. We're always going to be champions... I will always be a Chicago Bull and I want them to continue to do well. I'd like to see other banners in the rafters and I hope the city can always be proud of the Chicago Bulls."
There are 13 players, coaches, and managers who made the inaugural Ring of Honor class for the Bulls. It includes Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Toni Kukoc, Jerry Sloan, Artis Gilmore, Johnny “Red” Kerr, Dick Klein, Jerry Krause, Bob Love, Chet Walker, Tex Winter, and the 1995-96 team, which went 72-10 and won the 1996 NBA Championship, including the likes of Steve Kerr and more.
The criteria for the first class of the Ring of Honor is induction into the Naismith Hall of Fame or a banner in the United Center rafters.
Michael Jordan Will Always Be Considered The Greatest Bulls Player Of All Time
People will debate whether or not Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time. Even if the popular sentiment is still in favor of MJ, LeBron James' continued success is bolstering his argument as well. The one thing there can never be any doubt about is that Jordan is the greatest Bulls player of all time and was the reason why the franchise is considered one of the most valuable in the world now.
Jordan averaged 31.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 930 regular-season games with the Bulls. He won six championships, six Finals MVPs, five regular-season MVPs, 14 All-Star appearances, 12 All-NBA appearances, 10 scoring title wins, one Defensive Player of the Year, and even two Slam Dunk Contests.
Everything Jordan has achieved in Chicago alone puts him in the conversation for the greatest Bulls player of all time. The only one who's even come remotely close to showing the potential of one day being capable of entering the conversation was Derrick Rose but injuries cut his career short.
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