Derrick Rose, the former NBA MVP, has officially announced his retirement from professional basketball. The news came through an Instagram post and full-page ads he placed in local newspapers across the six NBA cities he played in: Chicago, New York, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Detroit, and Memphis.
In a statement to ESPN, Rose expressed his contentment with his decision. “Knowing I gave everything to the game, I’m confident in this choice,” Rose said. “Basketball was just the beginning, and now I’m ready to give my full attention to my family.”
At 36 years old, Rose has had a storied career, starting with being the No. 1 overall pick by the Chicago Bulls in the 2008 NBA Draft. He wasted no time making an impact, winning Rookie of the Year in 2009 and earning three All-Star selections in his early career. In 2011, Rose made history as the youngest player to ever win the NBA MVP award, averaging 25 points, 7.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds that season, while leading the Bulls to a 62-20 record.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls Updates
His MVP win, while still on his rookie contract, led to the unofficial creation of the “Derrick Rose Rule.” This rule allows players coming off their rookie deals to sign maximum contracts worth up to 30% of the salary cap, provided they have achieved accolades like MVP or All-NBA honors.
However, injuries soon took a toll on Rose’s career. After an ACL tear sidelined him for the entire 2012-13 season, he struggled to stay healthy and missed all but 10 games the following year. Although Rose returned to play more regularly in the 2014-15 season, he played over 51 games in just two of his final 10 NBA seasons.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls Updates
Despite his injury history, Rose continued to make an impact as a role player later in his career, receiving Sixth Man of the Year votes in 2019, 2020, and 2021 during his time with the Timberwolves, Pistons, and Knicks. Yet, the injuries ultimately prevented him from reaching his full potential as a long-term NBA star.
Over the course of his career, Rose averaged 17.4 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game in 723 regular season appearances. He also had 52 postseason games under his belt, where he elevated his performance, averaging 21.9 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.3 rebounds. Rose’s MVP season in 2011 saw him lead the Bulls to the Eastern Conference Finals, but he never played in an NBA Finals.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls Updates
Rose had been under contract with the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2024-25 season but requested his release, forfeiting his $3.3 million guaranteed salary as part of the agreement.
While there are no immediate plans for a ceremonial one-day contract, the organization is expected to honor Rose at some point during the upcoming season.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
Interested in reading the latest storylines and analysis in the NFL? Check out our partner NFL Analysis Network.
