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Former NBA MVP Derrick Rose announced his retirement after 16 seasons on Thursday (September 26).
Rose, 35, took out full-page ads in the local newspapers in the cities of his six NBA teams -- the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves (Minneapolis), Detroit Pistons and Memphis and shared a photo of himself reading a newspaper with the statement, as well as a graphic of it in its entirety.
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 make 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 would 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 togethers, 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 concluded his NBA career in Memphis, having previously led the University of Memphis Tigers to a March Madness Tournament Final during his lone collegiate season in 2008. The Grizzlies had previously granted Rose's request to be let out of the final year of his contract earlier this week.
Rose selected by his hometown Chicago Bulls at No. 1 overall in the 2008 NBA Draft and immediately emerged as one of the league's best point guards, winning the 2008-08 Rookie of the Year, earning three consecutive All-Star selections between 2010 and 2012 and becoming the NBA's youngest MVP at the age of 22 in 2011. The Chicago native's career trajectory took a drastic turn, however, when he tore his ACL during the first round of the 2012 Eastern Conference Playoffs, which forced him to miss the entire 2012-13 NBA season and be limited to only 10 games during the 2013-14 season.
Rose spent the rest of his career as a serviceable journeyman, averaging 17.4 points and 5.2 assists in 723 career games and 518 starts.