Former NBA MVP Derrick Rose announced his retirement after 15 seasons in the league on social media Thursday.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Rose was waived by the Memphis Grizzlies per his request earlier this week and teased an announcement coming today that turned out to be his retirement.
“Thank You, My First Love…,” Rose wrote in his post. “You believed in me through the highs and lows, my constant when everything else seemed uncertain. You showed me what love truly meant. You turned the court into my sanctuary, a home where I could express myself freely. You made every early morning and late night we spent together worth every drop of sweat. You reminded me that I could always rely on you, that in every moment of doubt, you would show me what I’m capable of.
“You introduced me to new places and cultures that a kid from Chicago could have never imagined. You taught me that every loss was a lesson and every win was a reason to be grateful. You offered wisdom that was not just about the game, but about life, discipline, hard work, perseverance. You showed me that passion is something to cherish, ensuring that i pour my heart into every dribble, every shot, every play. You stood by me even when the world seemed against me, unconditionally, waiting for me to pick you up. You gave me a gift, our time together, one that I will cherish for the rest of my days. You told me it’s okay to say goodbye, reassuring me that you’ll always be a part of me, no matter where life takes me.”
Several players across the NBA, including Phoenix Suns stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, showed love to Rose in his comments after the announcement.
“One of the greatest to ever grace a court,” Durant wrote. “Thank you for sharing your gifts to the world, can’t wait to see what u got next.”
Beal called Rose a “LEGEND!”
Rose was the No. 1 overall pick by his hometown Chicago Bulls in the 2008 NBA Draft, one year after Durant was selected with the second pick by the Seattle Supersonics.
Rose would first go on to win Rookie of the Year and then be named the 2010-11 Most Valuable Player after averaging 25.0 points, 7.7 assists and 4.4 rebounds. To this day, Rose is still the youngest MVP in NBA history, winning the award at 22 years old.
In December 2011, Rose signed a five-year, $95 million extension with Chicago, but was limited to 39 games that season. In the very first game of the postseason, Rose tore his ACL, causing him to miss all of the next season and severely altering the course of his career.
The kid from Englewood turned into a Chicago legend. pic.twitter.com/7242npXkRU
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 26, 2024
Rose, 35, would then suffer another season-ending injury 10 games into the 2013-14 season. He was eventually traded to the New York Knicks in 2016. After one season in New York, Rose would then play for the Cleveland Cavaliers (2017-18), Minnesota Timberwolves (2018-19), Detroit Pistons (2019-21), Knicks again (2021-23) and finally with the Grizzlies this past season.
Rose finished his career averaging 17.4 points, 5.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds across 723 NBA games, only playing more than 60 games twice over his last 12 NBA seasons.
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
