Former NBA MVP and three-time All Star guard Derrick Rose announced his retirement after 16 seasons, saying goodbye to basketball in an Instagram post and with full-page ads in the newspapers of the six NBA cities he played in. Rose, 35, was waived by the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, two days before his retirement announcement.
Rose was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the first overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and quickly became a standout player, earning the NBA Rookie of the Year award in his first season. Despite battling injuries throughout his career, Rose was named the NBA MVP in the 2010-11 season.
After eight seasons with the Bulls, Rose played for several other NBA teams including the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and the Grizzlies. He finishes his career with averages of 17.4 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game in 723 career games.
In his farewell message, Rose thanked basketball for the gift of time together and expressed gratitude for the memories and experiences the sport has given him. Fans and fellow athletes have been quick to praise Rose for his contributions to the game and his perseverance through injuries throughout his career.
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Photo credit www.cleveland.com
