Red Panda Returns: Bulls vs. 76ers Halftime Unicycle

Legendary performer Red Panda made her 2025-26 NBA season debut Tuesday, delivering her signature unicycle routine at halftime of the Bulls–76ers game at the United Center. Rong Niu returns after wrist surgery from a July fall during the WNBA Commissioner's Cup title game that left her in a Minneapolis hospital for 11 hours. A staple since debuting with the Clippers in 1993 and even performing at Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals before the injury, her act — balancing on a unicycle, flipping bowls onto her head and stacking them — is a beloved halftime ritual. Merlin sees this as more than a comeback; it’s a reminder that some traditions outlast seasons and setbacks. Her recovery and return not only restore a familiar spark to arenas but also suggest more appearances across NBA, WNBA and college stops, with teams likely to tweak safety and scheduling to keep the show safe and steady.