Michael Carter-Williams has always had a thing for the number 1. He rocked it at Syracuse. Wore it proudly with the Sixers. Even after a stop in Milwaukee—where No. 1 was off-limits thanks to Oscar Robertson’s retired jersey—he still had it in mind. He settled for No. 5 there, but when he got traded to the Bulls in 2016, he planned to bring the 1 back. But this time, he backed off, because Bulls fans weren’t just seeing a jersey—they were seeing the memory of one of their own legends: Derrick Rose.

Derrick Rose retired last September after 15 seasons, but in Chicago, it still feels like he’s part of the city. Drafted No. 1 overall in 2008, the Simeon standout became the youngest MVP in NBA history and carried the hopes of an entire city. He averaged 19.7 points, 6.2 assists, and 3.7 rebounds over eight seasons with the Bulls before being traded to the Knicks in 2016. But even after the trade, fans never truly let go.

So when Carter-Williams took No. 1, it wasn’t about him—it was about Rose; Chicago just wasn’t ready to say goodbye. On a recent episode of the Gimme the Hot Sauce podcast, the former Rookie of the Year (2014), Carter-Williams finally opened up about what really happened with the jersey number.

“So when I was in Philly, I was No. 1,” he said. “Then I went to Milwaukee, and I couldn’t be 1 and I wanted to go back. So when they asked me, I didn’t even think twice about it. I totally forgot D-Rose’s 1, I didn’t even think. I was just like, is 1 available? They were like yeah. I was like cool, I’ll take 1.” But the moment the news dropped, Bulls fans were up in arms. “It was like, all the Chicago fans were like, how could you do that? That number is sacred. That’s D-Rose’s number. Who do you think you are?”

For Carter-Williams, it wasn’t about ego—it was a completely innocent mistake. “I was like, woah. I got into a new team. I wanted the fans to like me. I don’t want no animosity coming in. Give me 78—I don’t care,” he said, clearly caught off guard by the emotional weight that No. 1 still carried in Chicago. And really, who could blame the fans? Derrick Rose wasn’t just any player—he was the city’s youngest MVP, a Simeon legend, and the face of the Bulls through some of their most memorable post-Jordan years.

To calm the storm, Carter-Williams quickly gave up the number and chose No. 7 instead. And he made it clear he meant no disrespect. “I know this organization respects Derrick Rose. It has nothing to do with stepping on anyone’s toes or anything like that,” he told the Chicago Tribune. “[Rose] was a great player. He did a lot for this city.”

And the city clearly agrees—Rose’s No. 1 was officially retired on January 4, 2025, a symbolic date that ties his legacy together.

The emotional retirement of Derrick Rose’s No. 1

There was a night made just for him—Derrick Rose Night at the United Center. Hours before fans showered him with roses, Derrick learned his No. 1 jersey would rise to the rafters the very next season. The announcement date itself held a beautiful secret: 1-4-25. The 1 stood for his iconic number in Chicago, the 4 for the number he wore with the Knicks, and the 25 for his high school number at Simeon. Players from both teams even wore warm-up shirts printed with those three numbers, quietly honoring his incredible journey.

What brought a smile to Derrick’s face during this emotional moment was a lighthearted promise from Bulls CEO Michael Reinsdorf: “...nobody’s wearing that No. 1 jersey again unless PJ is a Bull…” Knowing how much Derrick’s children mean to him—especially since he’s said, “I feel like I need to fully dedicate myself to my son now”—this made the gesture even more heartfelt. Growing up without a father himself, Derrick now encourages his son to “be great, not good.” It was a full-circle moment that touched the whole city.

No one has worn his No. 1 since his trade in 2016, so retiring the jersey wasn’t just a formality—it was a deep, emotional acknowledgment. As Reinsdorf said, “Retiring a jersey recognizes a player’s impact beyond on-court achievements… It recognizes that emotional bond and the great influence a player has had…” With that honor, Rose joined a legendary group—Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan, Bob Love, and Jerry Sloan—becoming the fifth Bulls player to have his jersey retired. Even Tom Thibodeau, Rose’s former coach and mentor, shared his excitement. He’s already championing Derrick’s induction into the Hall of Fame once he becomes eligible in 2027. “There’s no question in my mind, he’s a Hall of Fame player,” Thibodeau said.

At a private screening of Becoming a Rose, Derrick’s self-directed retirement film, his son PJ summed it up perfectly: “Roses need water and sunlight to grow, but this Rose needed a city.” And Chicago was exactly that—the city that helped Derrick Rose bloom into the legend he is today. Michael Carter-Williams understood this too and quietly stepped back, giving up the No. 1 jersey as early as 2016.