Derrick Rose, the former MVP loved and respected by players and fans, has decided to retire from basketball.
Rose made her announcement on Instagram Thursday saying, “You believed in me through the highs and lows, my constant when all else seemed uncertain.”
He also took out full-page ads in major newspapers in the six cities he played in – Chicago, New York, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Detroit and Memphis – to thank those fans.
Rose explained her decision to ESPN’s Malika Andrews and Tim MacMahon.
“Knowing that I gave my all to the game, I feel confident in my decision,” Rose told ESPN. “Basketball was just the beginning for me. Now, it’s important that I give everything to my family – they deserve it.”
Rose played 15 NBA seasons, but it was his first four seasons in Chicago — winning Rookie of the Year, then in his third season MVP at age 22 when he averaged 25 points and 7.7 assists a game — that made him a legend. He was an All-Star in three of his first four seasons until a major knee injury during the 2012 playoffs changed everything. He missed nearly two full seasons and was never quite the same player.
“Drafting Derrick in 2008 was a special moment, not only for the Bulls organization, but for Derrick, the kid from Chicago, to realize his dream of playing for his hometown team,” Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “As both a player and a person, Derrick represents the grit, resilience and heart of this city. He’s one of the toughest and most determined athletes I’ve ever been around, constantly fighting through adversity that would have broken most. Watching him. to grow from a Chicago Public League star to becoming the youngest MVP in NBA history as a Bull was nothing short of an honor.”
Rose worked hard at his craft and remained a quality player after the injuries, one who was always a fan favorite wherever he went. Continuing health problems – with his knee, hamstring, ankle and back – have limited him to no more than 27 games in each of the past three seasons. Despite that, he was in the mix to be a backup for Ja Morant in Memphis this season when he decided to retire from the team (and take no money from his guaranteed contract). Rose finishes his career averaging 17.4 points and 5.2 assists a game.
