The private ceremony took place Thursday. Select members of the Bulls’ organization saluted their latest Ring of Honor class.
The public celebration came at halftime Saturday, and the good news was there were no who-didn’t-show distractions.
For the inaugural class two years ago, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen skipped the ceremony. Jordan at least sent a video message, but the week leading up to the festivities was filled with the drama of whether they would show.
Even Dennis Rodman was late.
That wasn’t the case with this second class. Former assistant coach Johnny Bach, ex-players Bill Cartwright, Horace Grant, John Paxson and Norm Van Lier and longtime radio and TV play-by-play announcer Neil Funk were honored.
“I think it’s awesome,” coach Billy Donovan said.
“Obviously for the class and all the people that have contributed here, the people that have contributed to the organization, the success here is remarkable.
‘‘It’s great to see all those guys get rewarded and acknowledged, recognized for their own individual accomplishments and the team accomplishments that they’ve been a part of.”
Obviously, the latest class focused more on the first three-peat, starting with Bach, who was not only a decorated World War II hero but was the key figure in developing the team’s defense under coach Phil Jackson.
Cartwright was the starting center for the first three-peat after he was acquired in 1988, and Grant and Paxson also were key figures.
Paxson later served as general manager and senior adviser.
Bumps and bruises
The blowout loss Friday to the Heat was a stain on the early part of the Bulls’ season, and there was injury added to the insult.
Matas Buzelis, Patrick Williams, Isaac Okoro, Kevin Huerter and Dalen Terry were knocked out of that game — or, in Huerter’s case, ejected — and into the training room. With a back-to-back against the Wizards, not everyone returned to play against Washington.
Huerter and Buzelis were cleared, but Okoro (back), Williams (left wrist) and Terry (strained calf) were in street clothes.
Early return
Because of the player shortage, the Bulls had to pull the plug on rookie Noa Essengue playing with the G League Windy City Bulls on Saturday.
Essengue, the 12th overall pick in the 2025 draft, played Friday for Windy City and had 22 points, but it’s not his scoring that Donovan is focusing on.
“I don’t really worry about [his scoring],” Donovan said. “I think he’s going to run out in transition and find ways to score.
‘‘I think it’s going to be more the defensive part. Now the rebounding part, I think he’s so long that him going to the glass will be better for him and certainly help us.
“I think his cutting and feel for the play is good. The shooting, he was 1-for-5 from three Friday, so I think that’s going to take time to get better, and him playing with the basketball.”
Essengue finally earned rotation minutes with the big club, making his NBA debut with a four-minute scoreless stint in the first half against the Wizards. He was a minus-9.