Former NBA MVP Derrick Rose is retiring, 35-year-old point guard says The AthleticHe made his announcement official Thursday morning via social media and by placing ads in local newspapers in the six NBA cities he played for: Chicago, New York, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Detroit and Memphis.
The Chicago Bulls selected Rose No. 1 overall out of Memphis in the 2008 NBA Draft, and the Chicago native remains the youngest player in league history to win the MVP award, at age 22 in 2011. The three-time All-Star was the NBA’s most productive player during his tenure in Chicago, averaging 19.7 points, 6.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game over seven seasons.
After being traded from Chicago, he played for the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons before signing with the Memphis Grizzlies before last season. The Athletic It was reported earlier this week that the Grizzlies were waiving Rose.
“The next chapter is about following my dreams and sharing my growth. I believe true success comes from becoming the person 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 it’s a good thing or a bad thing, everyone has a ‘what if’ story in their life. Even if I could, I wouldn’t change mine because it’s what helped me find true joy.”
Rose was named the 2009 Rookie of the Year, averaging 16.8 points and 6.3 assists per game. He was then named an All-Star for the first of his three seasons in 2009–10. In his third season, Rose started 81 games, averaging 25.0 points and 7.7 assists per game, and led the Bulls to an NBA-best 62–20 record en route to winning the MVP award.
The Bulls went 50-16, tied with the San Antonio Spurs for the league’s best record, in the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season, but a torn ACL in Game 1 of Chicago’s first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers derailed Rose’s career, limiting the athleticism he used to dominate around the rim. Despite the grueling injury, Rose remained in the league for a total of 16 seasons.
Over his career, Rose averaged 17.4 points and 5.2 assists in 723 regular season games.
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