Derrick Rose, a former Most Valuable Player, has announced his retirement from the NBA following a distinguished 16-year career.

Derrick Rose, a former Most Valuable Player, has announced his retirement from the NBA following a distinguished 16-year career. In a statement to ESPN, Rose expressed, "Having dedicated myself fully to the sport, I am assured in my choice. Basketball was merely the starting point for me. It is now essential that I devote my efforts to my family, as they rightfully deserve my commitment."

Rose, 35, made his announcement via social media on Thursday morning. Additionally, he placed full-page advertisements in the local newspapers of the six NBA cities where he played: Chicago, New York, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Detroit, and Memphis, expressing his gratitude to each fan base.

The Memphis Grizzlies had approved Rose's request to release him from the final year of his contract earlier in the week. Rose entered the league as the first overall selection in the 2008 draft, joining his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches, the point guard swiftly established himself as one of the NBA's most thrilling young talents, showcasing his remarkable athleticism and bold playing style.

Derrick Rose was awarded the Rookie of the Year title for the 2008-09 season and subsequently earned All-Star selections for the following three years. In the 2010-11 season, he made history by becoming the youngest player to receive the MVP award in the NBA at the age of 22. During that season, he averaged 25.0 points and 7.7 assists per game, guiding the Chicago Bulls to an impressive 62-20 record, the best in the league, before advancing to the Eastern Conference finals.

The course of Rose's career shifted dramatically when he sustained an ACL tear in the first round of the 2012 playoffs. This injury sidelined him for the entirety of the following season, and he participated in only 10 games during the 2013-14 season. His eight-year tenure with the Bulls concluded when Chicago traded him to the New York Knicks in the offseason of 2016. In the latter part of his career, Rose became a journeyman, frequently hindered by injuries. He concluded his career with averages of 17.4 points and 5.2 assists across 723 games, of which he started 518. Over the final three seasons, he played merely 77 games, including 24 in his solitary season with Memphis, the city where he excelled on a college team that reached the national championship game in 2008.