After a remarkable 16-year career, veteran point guard Derrick Rose has finally confirmed through a mysterious Instagram post that he is indeed leaving professional basketball for good.
Former NBA MVP Derrick Rose, who was recently waived from the Memphis Grizzlies, announced his retirement through IG on Thursday, Sept. 26, thus ending his tumultuous yet legendary career in the NBA.
From MVP to Injury Setbacks: The Story of Derrick Rose’s Career
Derrick Rose was a force to be reckoned with, coming into the league as the No. 1 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, selected by his hometown Chicago Bulls.
Just a kid from Chicago.
Thank you for everything, @drose 🌹 pic.twitter.com/u3CCwhlfRe
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 26, 2024
He quickly became the most electrifying player in the league, earning the NBA Rookie of the Year title in 2009. The meteoric rise will include three consecutive All-Star selections from 2010 to 2012. He is also a former Kia MVP.
He made history in 2011. At 22, he was the youngest player to win the NBA MVP. That year, he led the Bulls to a league-best record of 62-20 with averages of 25.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game over 81 games.
NEWS: Derrick Rose, former No. 1 pick and 2011 MVP is retiring, telling ESPN: “Knowing I gave my all to the game for 16 seasons, I feel confident in my decision… Basketball was just the beginning for me. Now, it’s important that I give my all to my family—they deserve that.”
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) September 26, 2024
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A Horror Knee Injury That Became the Point of No Return in Rose’s Life
Unfortunately, his career path took an abrupt turn when he tore his ACL in the 2012 playoff run, states Bleacher Report. Since his injury, he was never the same and could not seem to regain that impossible dominance while struggling to average more than 20 points a game or over 70 games throughout a season.
Rose continued his NBA journey after leaving Chicago, wherein he played for the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Detroit Pistons. He only presented glimpse moments of his previous form in those seasons, as he was bedeviled with injuries.
Final Season With the Grizzlies and His Decision to Retire
His last stint in the NBA was with the Memphis Grizzlies; it was nothing but a repeat of the same: injuries brought him hardly any contribution. In the season 2022-2023, he appeared in 24 games and scored an average of 8.0 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 16.6 minutes per game.
Rose was not ready to retire from his career, but his body could not support such intense physical activity as required by the competition of the NBA.
Finally, in April, he hinted at a desire to push through and continue his career, expressing hope to remain with the Grizzlies. That was before he had all these thoughts; he has now decided to retire for good.
Derrick Rose’s Legacy in the NBA
An NBA career that will forever be etched in history with giving the world utter joy as well as miserable lows, Derrick Rose’s unmatched athletic speed and court vision made him perhaps one of the most exciting players to ever step foot on the court. He goes into his career with averages of 17.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists across 723 games.
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