Derrick Rose-the former NBA MVP and three-time All-Star-announced Thursday that he was retiring from basketball, culminating a 16-year career filled with flashes of early brilliance and a whole lot of perseverance through injuries.
Rose, 35, was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the No. 1 overall pick in 2008, and he wasted no time as he took the league by storm, winning Rookie of the Year in 2009 and MVP honors in 2011. At the time, he was the youngest player ever to win MVP, cementing his status as the face of the Bulls franchise.
But he was derailed by a series of injuries, including a torn ACL in the 2011-12 playoffs and subsequent meniscus surgeries that severely limited his playing time.
Rose took to Instagram to pen a remarkably emotional post about his love of basketball-the court being his “sanctuary”-and to thank everyone who supported him through the ups and downs.
After eight seasons in Chicago, Rose played for the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies. In his last season with the Grizzlies, he was limited to just 24 games, with seven starts.
The Bulls praised him as a “Chicago legend,” while the Grizzlies saluted him for his contributions and wished him the best in the next stage of his life.
