On Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, former Chicago Bulls player Derrick Rose had his jersey retired at the United Center.

Derrick Rose was born in Chicago. He grew up on the South Side in Englewood and attended Simeon High School. Rose played basketball at Simeon before attending the University of Memphis. His talented career at Memphis placed him as the #1 overall pick by the Chicago Bulls in the 2008 NBA draft at just 19 years old.

Rose’s career took off quickly as he earned the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2009 and famously became the youngest player to win the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 2011 at the age of 22. That same season, he led the Bulls to a 62-20 record, securing the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference while averaging 25 points, seven assists, four rebounds and a steal. In the playoffs, he led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they eventually fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers. After achieving another playoff appearance in the following season, Rose tragically suffered a torn ACL in the first round. This was the start of an unfortunate injury-plagued career, as he was eventually traded to the New York Knicks in 2016 after eight years with the Bulls.

A hometown hero, Rose’s effort and heart on the court made a lasting impact on Chicago, one the city will celebrate for years to come. In honor of his commitment to the team and city, the Bulls retired Rose’s #1 at the United Center during their game on Jan. 24 against the Celtics. The ceremony featured art from Chicago students in the After School Matters program that celebrates Rose’s career with photo opportunities and Rose-inspired foods and drinks.

For more information on the event, visit here.