As the first overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Derrick Rose was heralded as a savior for the Chicago Bulls, a franchise still living in the shadow of Michael Jordan‘s immense legacy.
A series of major knee injuries never allowed Rose to reach those lofty expectations. Named MVP of the 2010-11 season at age 22, he tore the ACL in his left knee in the first round of the 2012 playoffs. Four surgeries followed in the next five years.
Yet Rose persevered long enough to play in parts of 15 seasons before finally announcing his retirement Thursday.
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
“Knowing that I gave my all to the game, I feel confident in my decision,” Rose told ESPN’s Malika Andrews and Tim MacMahon. “Basketball was just the beginning for me. Now, it’s important that I give my all to my family — they deserve that.”
Rose, who turns 36 on Oct. 4, retires as a three-time All-Star in addition to his 2009 Rookie of the Year and 2011 MVP awards. Rose collected all of those accolades in his first four seasons in the league (2008-12), when he averaged 21.0 points, 6.8 assists and shot .464 from the floor for the Bulls.
A torn ACL during the Bulls’ 2012 first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers changed the trajectory of Rose’s career. He missed the entire 2012-13 season while undergoing rehab and played just 10 games in 2013-14 because of a right meniscus injury suffered in Nov. 2013.
The Bulls won three playoff rounds with Rose on their roster from 2009-15. The farthest they advanced was the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals, following a 62-20 regular season. The Miami Heat led by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh eliminated Rose’s Bulls in five games; Chicago has yet to return to the Conference Finals since.
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 12: Russell Westbrook #4 of the Washington Wizards dribbles past Derrick Rose #4 of the New York Knicks during the first half at Capital One Arena on February 12, 2021 in Washington, DC. Rose retired on Tuesday.
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
In June 2016, Rose was traded by the Chicago Bulls with Justin Holiday and a 2017 2nd round draft pick (Damyean Dotson) to the New York Knicks for José Calderón, Jerian Grant and Robin Lopez.
That kicked off an eight-year odyssey that saw the point guard play for five different teams, beginning in New York. Rose averaged 14.4 points and 4.0 assists per game while averaging 25 minutes over the back stretch of his career, collecting Sixth Man of the Year votes in three different seasons.
A Chicago native, Rose led the University of Memphis to a 38-2 record during his only college season. The Tigers fell to Kansas in the 2008 National Championship game.
In a full-circle moment, Rose returned to Memphis for his final NBA season. He played in 24 games, starting seven, for the Grizzlies in 2023-24 while averaging 8.0 points.
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