The Chicago Bulls will have the hottest ticket in town this winter.
According to Darnell Mayberry and Shams Charania of The Athletic, the organization will honor Derrick Rose on January 4, 2025. Fittingly, the Bulls will welcome former head coach Tom Thibodeau and the New York Knicks into the United Center that night.
Bulls to Honor Derrick Rose
We’re still waiting on confirmation from the organization, but this was speculated as the probable date from the moment Derrick Rose announced his retirement at the end of September. Fans know well the close bond that Rose shares with Tom Thibodeau, as the two linked up again in Minnesota and New York following their heyday in Chicago.
For what it’s worth, Rose also spent the second-most years of his career with the Knicks. The youngest MVP in NBA history was sent to the team via trade following the 2015-16 season. He would go on to have two different stints in the Big Apple, playing a total of 152 games with the franchise.
The big question now is who else will be in attendance for Rose’s big night? Joakim Noah is the safest of safe bets, but I imagine MANY of the 2010s Bulls will show face. Also, what exactly do the Bulls have planned? Fans have long asked for a jersey retirement, but ownership has been nothing short of stingy with that over the years. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Bob Love, and Jerry Sloan are the only players in franchise history to have their numbers in the rafters. Could the Reinsdorf surprise fans by raising Rose’s iconic No. 1?
If not, there better be more than a standing ovation and video tribute to honor the hometown hero. Derrick Rose is comfortably on many fans’ Mt. Rushmore of Bulls players, and there will be high expectations for January 4.
Ps: Tickets are about to be EXPENSIVE! The cheapest currently on Ticketmaster is $149 for the 300-section, and I expect this will only go up. So, yeah, you might want to get on this sooner than later.