Derrick Rose retires to ‘show the world who I am beyond basketball’
A 16-year NBA career derailed by injury has come to an end
Former NBA MVP Derrick Rose announced his retirement from basketball this morning.
The 35-year-old hinted he was heading towards that decision earlier this week when the Memphis Grizzlies granted his request to opt out of the final year of his contract.
Rose confirmed his retirement on social media and also took out a full-page ad in the local paper of the six cities in which he has played – Chicago, New York, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Detroit and Memphis.
Rose’s career can be split into two halves, the first as a rising superstar and the second as something of a journeyman desperately trying to reclaim former glories.
“The next chapter is about chasing my dreams and sharing my growth. I believe true success comes from becoming who you were created to be, and I want to show the world who I am beyond basketball,” Rose said in a statement to The Athletic.
“Whether good or bad, everyone has a ‘What if’ story in their life. Even if I could, I wouldn’t change anything in mine, because it’s what helped me find real joy.”
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ACL injury derailed career
Rose was taken with the first pick of the 2008 Draft by the Chicago Bulls and made an immediate impression, winning Rookie of the Year 12 months later before being named to the first of three All-Star Teams in 2010.
He peaked in 2011, averaging 25.0 points and 7.7 assists per game to land the MVP – he remains the youngest player to have won the award.
Rose’s career fell off its upward trajectory in 2012 when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Game 1 of the Bulls’ first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers.
He struggled to regain top form due to decreased mobility in spells with the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons and the Grizzlies.