NBA halftime icon Red Panda returns from injury at Bulls game in Chicago

Acrobat Red Panda performs at halftime between the Chicago Bulls and the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center on November 04, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
Acrobat Red Panda performs at halftime between the Chicago Bulls and the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center on November 04, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Photo credit Michael Reaves/Getty Images

More than half of the fans in attendance at the Chicago Bulls game against the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday night stayed in their seats during halftime to watch Rong Niu, better known as Red Panda.

It was the Chinese-American acrobat's first performance since breaking her wrist in a fall at the WNBA Commissioner's Cup final between the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx on July 1.

Niu's act consists of riding on a 7-foot unicycle while balancing custom-made bowls on her lower leg before flipping them atop her head. She's become an iconic act, having performed at NBA, WNBA and college basketball games for more than three decades.

After landing the final trick of her act, Red Panda received a standing ovation from the crowd, showing that she can't stay down for long.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images