In this article, we will take a closer look at all of Chicago Bulls retired numbers and the players who have earned this distinguished honor.
| Player Name | Retired Number | Year Player Retired |
|---|---|---|
| Jerry Sloan | 4 | 1976 |
| Bob Love | 10 | 1977 |
| Michael Jordan | 23 | 1998 |
| Scottie Pippen | 33 | 1998 |
The Chicago Bulls are one of the most iconic franchises in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with a rich history of talented and dedicated players.
Over the years, the team has retired several numbers in honor of the players who have made significant contributions to the team’s success.
But before that, if you don’t know, let’s talk about what does it mean to retire a number in basketball?
Table of Contents
What Does It Mean To Retire A Number In Basketball?
In basketball, retiring a number means that you’re taking the number out of circulation forever. It’s a way to honor a player and to make sure that no one else ever wears that number again.
The number is retired so that no other player can wear it.
In short, retiring a number is a way for teams to honor their players and remember the great things they’ve done.
Usually, the team will hang the retired shirt in their stadium for everyone to see just like they do with the championship flags, this gives the retired player another layer of honor from the team.
Chicago Bulls Retired Numbers
The Chicago Bulls are one of the most storied teams in professional sports, mostly because of one player. They’ve got six NBA championships, but they’ve also got some pretty impressive retired numbers. Here’s a list of all of them:
1. #4 – Jerry Sloan
Born: March 28, 1942 McLeansboro, Illinois, U.S.
Weight: 88 kg
Height: 6’5”
Position: Shooting guard
Jerry Sloan was a Chicago Bulls player from 1966 to 1976. He played as a shooting guard and was known for his speed and strength.
Sloan’s professional basketball career started when he was drafted by the Baltimore Bullets in the first round of the 1965 NBA draft.
Later, in 1966, he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls.
Sloan was a key player on the team who spent most of his career with the Chicago Bulls.
In addition to being an excellent athlete who could play multiple positions well, Jerry Sloan was also known for his hard work ethic off the court as well
Sloan was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.
The 6’5″ shooting guard retired from his playing career in 1976, but continued to act as an assistant coach and then a head coach for the bulls.
He was also the head coach of the Utah Jazz from 1988 to 2011. Sloan was a legendary coach who led the Utah Jazz to multiple championships.
He is considered one of the Greatest Players and coaches in NBA History.
The Chicago Bulls retired his number 4 jersey in 1978, making it the first retired jersey in franchise history.
He passed away on May 22, 2020, at the age of 78 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
Sloan’s achievements include being named to NBA All-Star twice, NBA All-Defensive Second Team, ICC Player of the Year twice.
He also won the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.
2. #10 – Bob Love
Born: December 8, 1942 Bastrop, Louisiana, U.S.
Weight: 98 kg
Height: 6’8”
Position: Small forward
Bob Love is a Chicago Bulls legend who played for the team from 1968 to 1976.
He is widely considered one of the best swingmen in league history.
Bob was a key part of their early success. He averaged more points per game than any other player in the team’s history, and he was named an All-Star three times.
Love was known for his smooth shooting stroke and great rebounding ability.
His achievements include being named to the EPBL Rookie of the Year in 1966, All-NBA Second Team in 1971 and 1972, and NAIA All-American in 1963 and 1965.
His #10 jersey was retired in 1994.
3. #23 – Michael Jordan
Born: February 17, 1963 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Weight: 98 kg
Height: 6’6”
Position: Shooting guard
Michael Jordan is widely considered as the greatest basketball player of all time, and his time with the Chicago Bulls is legendary.
He won six NBA championships, five MVP awards, and six Finals MVP awards all with the Chicago Bulls.
Michael Jordan is also known as the most talented player in NBA history.
He could dunk with ease, and he shot better than almost anyone else who played the game.
He also won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA. In 1998, he became the first player in NBA history to score 30,000 points.
He retired after the 1993-94 season only to come back again in 1995 to 1998 with a total of 32,292 points.
Michael Jordan is a legend. There’s no question about it. He’s been retired for years now, but he still holds some of the most prestigious records in NBA history that have yet to be beaten.
His #23 jersey was retired in 1994.
4. #33 – Scottie Pippen
Born: September 25, 1965 Hamburg, Arkansas, U.S.
Weight: 103 kg
Height: 6’8”
Position: Small forward
Scottie Pippen was a legend in his own right, but his career with the Chicago Bulls will always be remembered as one of the greatest in history because of his teammate, Jordan.
He was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1987 and played for them until 1998.
After leaving the team, he joined the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers, but returned to Chicago in 2003 for a second stint as a player.
Scottie Pippen is one of the greatest players to ever wear a Bulls jersey.
He was an integral part of the Bulls’ six NBA championships, and his teammates and coaches say he had more talent than most people will ever see.
In his career, Pippen has made many achievements including being named to NBA Champion six times, NBA All-Star seven times, NBA All-Defensive First Team eight times. He was also named the NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1994 and NBA steals leader in 1995.
In 2010, Pippen was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
His #33 jersey was retired in 2005.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the Chicago Bulls have a storied history of success and dedication, and the players and coaches who have contributed to this success are honored with retired numbers.
From the legendary Michael Jordan to the hard-working Scottie Pippen, the retired numbers of the Chicago Bulls represent some of the greatest basketball players in NBA history.
