Bulls Legend Derrick Rose Announces Retirement After 16 Seasons

Derrick Rose announced Thursday that he is retiring from the NBA after 16 seasons. The former MVP took out full-page ads in major newspapers from all six cities he played in to make the announcement in the form of a love letter to basketball.

“Thank You, My First Love…,” Rose’s statement began. “You believed in me through the highs and lows, my constant when everything else seemed uncertain. You showed me what love truly meant.”

Over the course of a lengthy, troubled NBA career, Rose earned a glowing reputation among fans for his talent and determination. Between 2008 and 2016, Rose became the new face of the Chicago Bulls and became the team’s biggest name since Michael Jordan. The Chicago native won the MVP award in 2011 and led his hometown team to the Eastern Conference Finals in the same year.

“Derrick Rose will always be a Chicago Bull,” Michael Reinsdorf, Bulls President and CEO, said in a statement. “From day one, Derrick embodied humility in his biggest moments and resilience in the most challenging ones. He was a once-in-a-generation talent who took the league by storm … his impact at such a young age is truly remarkable. His legacy in Chicago is undeniable — he brought this franchise back into contention, won an MVP, and, most importantly, inspired a city that will forever claim him as its own.”

While Rose is often remembered for the astounding success he attained between 2008 and 2012, injuries derailed what many argue could have been a Hall-of-Fame career. After leading the Bulls through the playoffs in 2011, Rose never played more than 70 games in a season for the rest of his career.

In 2016, Rose was famously traded to the New York Knicks. In a vulnerable moment captured on video, the Rose received the news through a phone call and was visibly distraught to be leaving his home. There were obvious bouts of homesickness in the following season, as Rose had consistent issues with New York and suffered yet another season-ending injury.

Even as multiple injuries took their toll and robbed Rose of much of his All-Star ability, he carried on as a solid contributor for the rest of his career. In stints for the Timberwolves and Pistons, he provided consistent points off the bench and under-appreciated defensive play. He even returned to New York in 2021 and performed credibly in a limited capacity.

After one last season for the Memphis Grizzlies, in which he was a likable veteran on a turbulent young team, Rose entered free agency this summer but did not accept any offers to carry on. His retirement announcement will likely be accompanied by a great deal of fanfare, in Chicago as well as many other cities around the league.

“You gave me a gift, our time together, one that I will cherish for the rest of my days,” Rose said in his love letter to basketball. “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.”