Michael Jordan Breaks His Silence as Derrick Rose Enters Bulls Immortality
Tonight is a special night for the city of Chicago. Arguably the most iconic homegrown sports star in the city’s history, Derrick Rose, will see his jersey lifted into the rafters of the United Center. He’ll be the fifth Chicago Bull to have his number retired, joining a short list of Hall of Fame players and franchise legends. One curiosity among fans is whether the organization’s most famous alumni, Michael Jordan, will be in attendance for the latest addition to the immortal grouping. This morning, Jordan posted a message to Rose, welcoming the legend to the circle of greats.
The G.O.A.T Welcomes The Newest Member Of Bulls History
Whenever something significant happens with the Chicago Bulls franchise, fans and media members wonder whether Jordan, who has been somewhat uninvolved with the organization since his playing days, will weigh in. He was not in attendance for the inaugural launch of the Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor, where he was one of nine players inducted in the first class of representatives for the organization. Tonight will be the next chapter of history in the building, where the fifth number in 59 years will be retired, via Derrick Rose’s number one. Here were Jordan’s words on the latest superstar to wear the red and black.
Michael Jordan's message to Derrick Rose
"Looking forward to coming to the United Center and seeing your jersey hanging up there with my jersey." pic.twitter.com/MRzkMrfDdY https://t.co/dwwYi5mto1
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 24, 2026
Choosing His Words Carefully
Since this announcement, many sports media sites have speculated that Jordan may be in attendance for tonight’s ceremony. This is the first jersey retired since Scottie Pippen’s iconic number 33 was raised to the rafters, where Jordan was present to support his longtime teammate and friend. The last time MJ appeared at the United Center was in 2020, when the Bulls hosted the NBA All-Star Game. If you listen carefully to his message, while he does say that he’s “looking forward to coming to the United Center and seeing your jersey up there with my jersey,” he does not specify that it will be tonight.
Tonight, No. 1 becomes immortalized pic.twitter.com/IeaCXHpH7A
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 24, 2026
Later today, it will be one of the most nostalgic and celebratory nights of recent memory. Reliving the D-Rose era will be exhilarating for everyone involved, but do not expect Jordan to be in attendance.
On a massive night in Chicago sports history, the most outstanding athlete ever to play in the city has officially expressed his praise and admiration.