UPDATE: A new report has indicated that Cater-Williams has since changed his mind about his jersey number. Read more here.
Derrick Rose may not longer be a member of the Chicago Bulls, but fans of the team may still be surprised to hear that the star’s jersey number has already been assigned to another player.
That player is Michael Carter-Williams, whom was traded to the Bulls over the weekend. According to the Bulls, Carter-Williams requested the number 1 for his jersey number, and they agreed to it, the team announced Monday afternoon.
During a media availability before Monday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets, Carter-Williams said the decision was a personal one and was in no way related to Rose’s tenure with the team.
“(It) has nothing to do with D-Rose, who was great for this city,” he said. “He’s an excellent player. I’m not trying to step on toes.”
Carter-Williams, who was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76’ers, wore the number 1 jersey during his seasons with the Sixers and in his collegiate career with Syracuse.
Rose isn’t the only player to have worn the jersey number, but he certainly was the most successful. Jamal Crawford also wore the jersey for three seasons during the early 2000’s, and Randy Brown wore the number during the Bulls’ most recent championship in 1998.
