Did Derrick Rose Retire From the NBA?

Derrick Rose just dropped a bombshell on us early this morning. The former NBA MVP followed his release from the Grizzlies with a cryptic video last night and announced his retirement today. A few moments ago, Athletic’s Shams Charania took to X to report that the 15-year veteran is hanging up his boots.

Shams reported that the next chapter for DRose is about chasing his dreams and sharing his growth.

There were rumors about the 2011 MVP retiring ever since the Grizzlies bought out his contract. To add fuel to the fire, Derrick Rose uploaded this on his Instagram last night:

Following the video he uploaded last night, Rose made a retirement post early morning. He captioned, “The psychological assumption automatically provides the means to fulfill the dream desire.”

In the post, Rose penned a beautiful note to his ‘first love’, i.e., basketball.

“Thank you, My First Love… 

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 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 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.

Forever yours,

Derrick Rose”

Rose not only made the announcement via social media, but also took out pages in the local newspapers of the six cities he played in – Chicago, New York, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Detroit, and Memphis, thanking each fanbase.

Derrick Rose’s career overview

Drafted as the 1st overall pick in the 2008 Draft, DRose was a hit right from his rookie year. He became the 1st Bulls rookie since Michael Jordan to score 10 or more points in his first 10 games. Rose won the Skills Challenge at the 2009 All-Star Weekend, and took home the Rookie of the Year honors.

In his third season, Rose was dubbed the NBA MVP, becoming the youngest ever to win the honor(22 years, 6 months). He then led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they fell short to the LeBron James-led Heat. The following season, DRose suffered a knee injury in the 1st round of the playoffs, which was diagnosed as an ACL tear, leading him to miss the entire 2012-13 season.

Rose made his return on October 5th 2013, in a preseason contest against the Pacers. He claimed his explosiveness was higher than before, and was returning on his All-Star path. Just a month after his return, Rose suffered a knee injury during a regular season game vs Portland. It was diagnosed to be a torn meniscus, which ruled him out for the rest of the year.

Rose suffered another meniscus injury in his right knee in February 2015, but returned in time to make the playoffs. The Bulls got to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals and faced LeBron James and his Cavs. Despite taking an initial 2-1 lead, the Cavs made a comeback and took the series in 6 games.

Rose’s final season with the Bulls came in 2016, when the team failed to make the playoffs for the 1st time since drafting him. After that, Rose had brief stints with the Knicks, the Cavs, the Timberwolves, and the Pistons. In 2021, Rose was traded back to the Knicks, where he played till 2023.

Rose decided to return to the place where he had played his college career – Memphis. In an injury-plagued season for the Grizzlies, Rose appeared as a bright light, till he suffered a hamstring injury in December.

Injuries derailed what could’ve been a brilliant career, but Derrick Rose would forever be remembered as the youngest MVP the league has ever seen.