Bulls legend Horace Grant breaks new TV series, Ring of Honor tribute

The first three-peat per Chicago Bulls it wouldn’t be complete without Horace Grant. His defensive prowess and efficient rebounding made him one of the most beloved players in franchise history.

From 1991-1993, Grant was in the starting mix one of the greatest dynasties in sports history. In 1994, Grant left Chicago to join the Orlando Magic, where he played together Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway.

He then previously played with Gary Payton in the Seattle Supersonics ended his career in 2004 with the LA Lakers with Shaq and Kobe Bryant.

Over 17 years, Grant accumulated 12,996 points, 9,443 rebounds and 2,575 assists while winning four championships (1991, 1992, 1993, 2001). Additionally, he was an NBA All-Star in 1994 and a four-time second-team NBA All-Defensive.

On Saturday, Grant will cement your place in Bulls history by joining the Ring of Honor Class of 2025. He will be recognized alongside teammates Bill Cartwright and John Paxton, as well as legends Norm Van Leer, Johnny Bach and broadcaster Neil Funk.

Also, Grant will produce the upcoming TV series, “Legends in Session,” produced by Wally Lockard III of Chicago’s Urban Grind TV. It will feature NBA legends talking candidly about their careers, as well as signing two pieces of memorabilia, and the proceeds will be donated to charity.

Among the players be represented are Scottie PippenStacey King, BJ Armstrong, Charles Oakley, Penny Hardaway, Vernon Maxwell and Horace’s brother Harvey Grant. The series will debut in 2026.

In an exclusive interview, Grant shares details about the series, the Ring of Honor ceremony. He also reflects on the special place he still holds in the hearts of Bulls fans.

Interview by Horace Grant

Zachary Draves: Horace, you got an upcoming TV series, and then the Bulls recognize you as part of their Ring of Honor ceremony. How does it feel to have all of this happening practically at the same time?

Horace Grant: I mean, it’s such a blessing, it’s a lot of work, it’s a lot of work, but, my personality, who I am. First of all, the Ring of Honor, with the Bulls, man, I’m so humbled to get in with Bill Cartwright, John Paxson, Chet Walker, Neil Funk and Johnny Bach, who was one of the best defensive-minded coaches to ever lead the game.

Then of course the first round was, you know, MJ and Pip and a whole bunch of other guys, they got picked first, but I’m so honored to be picked. Another venture I have is called Legends in sessionit’s not a podcast, it’s like a TV series. It will consist of the guests letting me know where they came from, how they grew up. I guess it depends if they play basketball, football, baseball or even entertainer how they grew up and all that, man. It will be, quote-unquote, legendary.

Horace intentionally celebrates his teammates and competitors

Zachary Draves: Speaking of which, when I looked at the guests, the lineup of guests that you have, you come in the series, like, you have some Bulls teammates, I saw Scottie Pippen, Stacey King, BJ Armstrong, even your Magic teammate, Penny Hardaway, along with Charles Oakley. What made you choose those guys?

Horace Grant: Because playing with those guys, and playing against those guys, I just knew that they had something to say to the public, not just about basketball, but about their… their upbringing, their life, and especially what they’re doing now. So I’ve got Vernon Maxwell, and Robert Horry is coming too.

Zachary Draves: It’s something special. I love the fact that you’re doing it and there’s an incentive behind it, there’s a way to bring it back and sell it at a memorabilia auction and then all the proceeds go to charity. Was that your concept?

Horace Grant: Yes, absolutely. I mean, I grew up in Georgia, you know, the old saying, it takes a village to raise a family and I’ve been given so much, why not give back, man? I mean, that’s one of the things I love about the crew behind the scenes, they know what I like in terms of giving back to the community, man. Restoring youth. And basically, that’s what it’s all about, too. Just letting the youngsters know that most of us as celebrities love them. I just said it like that.

Impression of Horace Grant wearing glasses

Zachary Draves: And speaking of getting your youth back, you kind of did it your way, when you were playing, I remember, I was fascinated by you with the glasses every time you stepped on the floor. You did it for medical purposes, sure, but as time went on, a lot of kids, when they saw you on the floor wearing glasses for a reason, some inspiration came from that. How do you feel about that aspect of your career?

Horace Grant: You know, the thing that really touched me, of course, I had to wear glasses because they were required. I was legally blind. So I had to put on glasses to play and they would put on prescription glasses.

But this thing called laser surgery came along and I’m like, okay, let me… let me do it.

Then I recognized that the grandparents, the parents of the children were coming, and this is such a true story, that they would come up and say, Horace, thank you for wearing your glasses.

Now, my grandson, my granddaughter, my daughter, my son don’t get bullied anymore because you made it cool and, I mean, being on the Bulls and winning a championship kind of helped everything.

When they approached me, when they said those phrases to me, there’s no way I’m not wearing glasses. So I took the prescription and still wore my glasses.

Horace Grant’s full circle moment with John Paxton

Zachary Draves: For the Ring of Honor ceremony, I couldn’t help but think how full circle it was because of Game 6 in 1993. You were the last guy to touch the ball before Pax, and then he made the shot, and then as the clock ticked down, you were the one with the block that won Kevin Johnson’s third straight title. How does that feel to you?

Horace Grant: Man, me and Pax, we talk about it and I always jokingly say, Pax, thank you for saving me, man, because I didn’t have a good game in Game 6. That just comes from trusting your teammate and I know 98, 99% of the time, if John Paxton is open for a shot, he’s going to make it. And luckily, I saw him in my peripheral vision, and he was wide open, and he made it 3.

I say with that block, I’m glad Kevin Johnson was about 6 feet, man. I’m glad he didn’t, about 6’7″. Maybe he would succeed.

Zachary Draves: Right. Not like against, if you were going against Oliver Miller, or if it was Dan Marjerla, or someone like that.

Horace Grant: Yeah, I mean, it could have been different, but luckily for the Bulls, he was 6-foot.

Horace was in the right place at the right time

Zachary Draves: The common thread of your career is that you just happen to be in the right place at the right time, playing with some of the greatest players. Whoever played the game, you contributed greatly to it all.

Horace Grant:You know, I’ve been so blessed to, to have played with oh, man, legendary, Hall of Famers, and believe me guys who are going to Hall of Famers. I mean let’s start with Chicago, MJ, Pip, and I don’t want to exclude anyone, John Paxson hitting shots, Bill Cartwright, BJ Armstrong, Stacey King, Scott Williams, so many. Then I had the pleasure of going to Orlando to play with young Shaq. Man, and if people don’t know about Penny Hardaway, they should be ashamed.

Barring injuries, man, we’re talking about a top 10 player. Nick Anderson, Dennis Scott, Brian Shaw and a host of others. Then I was very blessed to go to Seattle for one year and play with the glove, Gary Payton, man. Love that man to this day,

Then very blessed to, from there, go to LA. We are the mature Shak and God bless his soul, rest his soul, Kobe Bryant. Then you have Derrick Fisher, Robert Horry, Rick Fox, Brian Shaw, Ron Harper. I mean, so many guys, man. I was in the right place at the right time with these Hall of Famers.

Horace still feels the love from Bulls fans

Zachary Draves: I know you’re going to experience that this weekend from Chicago fans. What does it mean to you to still be able to receive the love you receive to this day?

Horace Grant: Well, first of all, I mean being a good person. Having that great character, and love and passion for basketball. And wanting to give back to the community. Those things are first and foremost.

When those things happen, people recognize it and embrace you. That’s all I did. My teammates that I played with. I think they can vouch for my work ethic and my character.

Zachary Draves: And very quickly as a follow up to that, I mean, your work ethic, you were that type of player, you were a workhorse, where did that come from?

Horace Grant: Well, man, I mean, if you grew up like I did in a little town called Sparta, Georgia.

At that time there were about 2,500 people and you lived off the land. When I say you lived off the land, you basically had to, like, hunt for food, fish for food, grow food, things of that nature.

It comes into play in the sense that you want something much better for yourself and your family.

Once a Chicago Bull, always a Chicago Bull

Zachary Draves: I’ve asked you this before, but what does it mean to you to be, always be connected, when they say the name Horace Grant, they automatically think of number 54 in the starting lineup for the Chicago Bulls?

Horace Grant: Well, in 1987 the Bulls gave this young man a shot out of Clemson. That same year, they also drafted a kid from Central Arkansas, Scottie Pippen. But they also had an angle Michael Jordan.

So it’s just an honor, man, to still be a part of such a great franchise. Not just for basketball, but for the city of Chicago, man.

I remember back in the ’90s, when we were winning those championships, man. That’s what brought this city together and that’s one thing I appreciate about the Chicago Bulls.