Michael Jordan forced to miss Chris Chelios' Blackhawks jersey retirement 'due to a death in the family' as the basketball great sends a video message to his long-time friend

Michael Jordan was forced to miss Chicago Blackhawks legend Chris Chelios' jersey retirement ceremony on Sunday due to a death in the family. 

One month after he curiously skipped the Bulls' Ring of Honor ceremony at United Center amid friction with former teammate Scottie Pippen, Jordan was scheduled to make a return to the venue to show his support for long-time friend Chelios.

The pair have enjoyed a close relationship which stems back to their respective playing days in Chicago, meaning the basketball great was planning to watch his famous No 7 Blackhawks jersey retired this weekend.

Yet according to NBC journalist Charlie Roumeliotis, Jordan was forced to skip Chelios' ceremony after announcing he is currently dealing with a death in the family.

The Bulls icon instead delivered a video message to his close pal on the night, where he revealed his reason for missing the event while at a golf course.

Michael Jordan was forced to miss Chicago Blackhawks legend Chris Chelios' jersey retirement ceremony on Sunday due to a death in the family

Chelios saw his famous No 7 jersey for the Blackhawks retired in a special ceremony

It is currently unclear which member of Jordan's family passed. 

Chelios revealed that the former Bulls star was due to attend his jersey retirement ceremony during an interview with WSCR-AM 670's 'Mully and Haugh Show' last week.

'I'm going to have them try to bring everybody I possibly can that's had an impact on me and obviously [Jordan] was a big part of my '90s,' he said. 

'They're going to be here to support me. I got a pretty good Rolodex over the span of my career so I'm loading up. This a last hurrah and I'm going to make it a good one.'

Dressed in all black and surrounded by family, friends and former teammates, Chelios blew kisses to the cheering crowd after he was introduced. 

The fans saluted the Chicago native with chants of 'Cheli! Cheli!' while the current Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings watched from the benches.

Unlike Jordan, ex-Bulls star Dennis Rodman (center) was at the United Center for the ceremony

'As a kid growing up in Chicago, I didn't have any expectations of becoming a professional hockey player,' he said. 'It just wasn't the thing back then. ... I played it because I loved it. That's all it was.'

Chelios, 62, played for his hometown team from 1990 until he was traded to Detroit in March 1999. He had 92 goals and 395 assists in 664 regular-season games with the Blackhawks. He remains the team´s career leader with 1,495 penalty minutes.

Unlike Jordan, former Bulls small forward Dennis Rodman was at the United Center for Chelios' ceremony on Sunday.