Derrick Rose, the former Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks point guard, recently announced his retirement from the NBA after 16 seasons. The 35-year-old player, who was the youngest ever MVP award winner, shared the news on Instagram along with a love letter to basketball. He took out pages in local newspapers of the six NBA cities he played in to thank each fanbase for their support throughout his career.
The next chapter in Rose’s life, as he mentioned to The Athletic, is about chasing his dreams and sharing his personal growth beyond basketball. He believes that true success comes from becoming who you were created to be and wants to show the world who he is beyond the basketball court. Despite the highs and lows of his career, Rose expresses that he wouldn’t change anything as it has all contributed to his finding real joy in life.
Rose began his NBA journey in 2008 with his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, where he won the Rookie of the Year award in the 2008-09 season. He was named an All-Star for the next three seasons and became the youngest MVP in NBA history at the age of 22 during the 2010-11 season. Despite his success, his career faced a setback when he tore his ACL during the playoffs in 2012, causing him to miss an entire season and be limited to only 10 games the next season.
Throughout his career, Rose struggled with knee injuries that impacted his performance on the court. Despite these challenges, he finished his career with an impressive average of 17.4 points and 5.2 assists per game in 723 games played, including 518 starts. His time with the Bulls came to an end in 2016 when he was traded to the New York Knicks, where he continued to showcase his talent and passion for the game.
Recently, the Memphis Grizzlies granted Rose’s request to be released from the final year of his contract, allowing him to retire on his own terms. As a player who has left a lasting impact on the game of basketball, Rose’s retirement marks the end of an era in the NBA. Despite the challenges he faced, his dedication, perseverance, and love for the game have left a lasting legacy that will be remembered by fans and fellow players alike.
