American playmaker Derrick Rose, former NBA MVP and one of the most beloved players, announced the end of his rich playing career through an emotional message on Instagram. “Thank you, my first love… You believed in me through thick and thin, you were steadfast when everything else seemed uncertain,” wrote the 35-year-old, who celebrates his birthday on Friday.
Rose, who was the first pick in the 2008 draft, left an indelible mark on the NBA. During his career, he became the youngest MVP in league history in 2011, and his game featured outstanding athleticism. Unfortunately, numerous injuries, starting with a torn ACL in his left knee in 2012, prevented him from reaching his full potential.
During his involvement in the NBA, Rose spent most of his career with the Chicago Bulls, where he played until 2016. After that, he tried to return to basketball heights in teams such as the New York Knicks, Cleveland, Minnesota and Detroit, and he played the last season in Memphis.
In his NBA career, Rose played 784 games, averaging 17.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. In the playoffs, his performance was even more impressive with 21.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists in 52 games.
Also, Rose won two gold medals with the USA team at the World Championships – in 2010 in Turkey and in 2014 in Spain. Although injury prevented Rose from matching the legendary Michael Jordan, his contributions to Chicago and basketball as a sport remain invaluable. It’s safe to say that the Chicago Bulls will retire his #1 jersey as a token of appreciation for all he’s done.