On September 26, 2024, former NBA MVP Derrick Rose announced his retirement from the NBA after 16 seasons, in a viral Instagram post. Rose would attach a lengthy “love letter” to his post to announce the decision. According to ESPN, Rose “also took out full-page ads in the local newspapers of the six NBA cities he played in -- Chicago, New York, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Detroit and Memphis -- to thank each fan base.”
"Thank you, my first love…” Rose began, in his letter, as reported by CBS Sports. “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."
Rose first came to national prominence at Simeon Career Academy, in the south side of Chicago, IL. Rose was placed at 5th on ESPN’s Top 100 for recruiting, and led Simeon to a state championships in 2006 and 2007. Rose would be named Illinois’ Mr. Basketball in 2007. He would be recruited by John Calipari to the University of Memphis, and in one year, Rose led the Tigers to a 33-1 record, and a number 1 seed in the 2008 NCAA tournament. He would be named as a finalist for the John Wooden Award, which is awarded to the most outstanding college basketball player in the nation. The Tigers lost in the 2008 National Championship to Kansas, but Rose would be named to the All-Final Four team.
The Chicago Bulls drafted Rose with the first overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. He would emerge as one of the NBA’s most intriguing young players, “dominating and dazzling with his combination of athleticism and fearlessness.” Rose won the 2008-09 NBA Rookie of the Year, and would three-peat as an All-Star team selection the next few seasons in Chicago. In the 2011 season, Rose became the NBA’s youngest MVP ever at the age of 22, averaging 25.0 points per game, 7.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds, leading Chicago to a league-best 62-20 record. His ferocious high-flying dunks, shifty ball movement, and fast-paced play caught the eye of every basketball fan.
Unfortunately, Rose’s fall from grace came as quickly as his rise. After recording a 21.8 points per game and 7.9 assists season, and leading the Bulls to a 1 seed in the East with a 50-16 record, Rose would tear his ACL in Game 1 of the 2012 NBA Playoffs. He would be forced to sit out the 2012-13 season. Rose would play in Chicago for three more seasons, but clearly was not at the same flashy level post-surgery, not recording more than 17.7 PPG and failing to even get close to the same level of assist numbers on average. ESPN reporter Nick Friedell stated, “Whatever the reason, Rose evolved into a different player. Glimpses of brilliance were still there on certain nights, but the virtuoso performances were not.” He would be traded to the New York Knicks in the 2016 season.
Rose would continue to be named a full-time starter in New York, averaging 18.0 PPG and 4.4 APG in 2016-17, his best numbers since the 2012 season. He would sign to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017-18, but found himself again with a leg injury, specifically his ankle, and the former star would take time away from the team in November 2017 to evaluate his future in the league. He would miss nearly two whole months due to injury, and would be traded (and shortly after, waived) to the Utah Jazz in February 2018. He would sign with the Jimmy Butler-led Minnesota Timberwolves the next month, to reunite with his former head coach Tom Thibodeau. Rose found a name in Minnesota, averaging 14.2 points in the playoffs, despite a 1-4 series loss in the first round against the Houston Rockets.
Rose had one more trick up his sleeve in the 2018-19 season, scoring an emotional career-high 50 points against the Jazz on October 31, in a 128-125 win. Rose sealed the victory with two clutch free throws at the very end of the game, and shot 19 for 31 on the floor. Rose would be floored post-game, crying during his post-game interview as the Minnesota home crowd doused him in MVP chants. Rose finished the 2019 season averaging 18.0 points, and was a contender for the Sixth Man of the Year award.
Rose would spend the remaining years of his career with stints with Detroit and a return to New York, finding himself in Sixth Man of the Year conversations again in 2020 and 2021. Rose would even receive “a first-place MVP vote again in that 2020-21 season, a decade after winning that award,” as stated by NBA.com. He spent his final season with the Memphis Grizzlies, playing in 24 games and starting in 7, averaging 8 points.
Dwyane Wade sums up the legacy of Derrick Rose best, as reported by the NBA: “With D-Rose, it was never a question of his talent. It was always about his health. And when he was healthy, everyone saw all the talent.”
Rose was at one point the most entertaining basketball player in the world. If his legacy will be cemented with a Hall of Fame honor, will remain a question, as his accolade list is not long to match his impact on the game. CBS Sports states Rose will retire “as one of the league's greatest ‘what ifs?’”
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