The Chicago Bulls' franchise hasn't been championship caliber since the days of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, but former point guard Derrick Rose led Chi-Town to the precipice.  

Rose, a former Rookie of the Year and MVP award winner, retired in September 2024 after a legendary career that didn't come with the same type of storybook ending that Jordan and Pippen had, namely, an NBA championship, but he did lead the Bulls to the East Finals in 2011. 

Rose has been a wildly popular surprise guest at Bulls games in the Windy City ever since, delighting the United Center crowd with his familiar visage.

Now, Rose is being honored in a unique way, making his presence known in the video game world's most famous basketball game. 

Rose has been seen in the new NBA 2K27 video game, which was released to early access pre-order players on Aug. 26, sitting courtside at Chicago Bulls United Center games. 

Rose's sprite appears authentic and well animated according to a screenshot shared on social media. 

He is seen taking in the action courtside while decked out in Chicago gear.

The Bulls' 2K27 ratings leave much to be desired as they are among the lowest in the Eastern Conference and don't inspire hope for a championship run anytime soon.

Chicago is listed as a tier three team according to the website 2KRatings.com and has a clear weakness: the inside game. 

The Bulls are ranked as a 62 out of 100 in terms of their inside ratings, a bit of a surprise considering the offseason addition of Nic Claxton at center, the continued development of Matas Buzelis as a forward, and the addition of rookie Caleb Wilson at the four spot.

New head coach Tiago Splitter was excellent at doing the little things needed to win ballgames during his playing days as a San Antonio Spurs center, which should translate to his coaching style and could help the ranking improve. 

The Bulls do have a strong perimeter rating in the popular video game, garnering a 81 outside rating thanks to the play of Tre Jones, Josh Giddey, Norman Powell and others last season. 

Rose's playing days are long over, but his influence is felt in the 2026-27 Bulls, which are ranked 79 in terms of their athleticism score in the latest video game. 

Giddey and Powell are among top 100 players in the game according to the NBA 2K27 player rankings, and each has a chance to continue a backcourt legacy the Bulls have built up over the last few decades.

While neither is likely to approach the heights reached by Rose and Jordan, the Bulls' backcourt is in good hands heading into the 2026-27 season. 

Expect fireworks this season, both on the virtual and real life courts, with Giddey and Powell leading Chicago's offensive attack.