Former Bulls player Derrick Rose has officially put down the jersey and is steering towards retirement. One of the reasons why he has done this is because he wants to focus on his family and his role of being a parent and spouse. 

On Thursday, September 26, fans had woken up to a new post on instagram of Derrick Rose’s written and spoken speech of his retirement, where he wrote, 

“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 made 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 could 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 together, one that I will cherish for the rest of my days. You told me its 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”

This had led fans into an uproar with heartfelt emotions and questions. Some people believe that this was a great timing because of the amount of things that he has gone through throughout his whole career, from winning youngest MVP back with the Bulls to tearing his ACL back in 2012. Derrick Rose was believed to be able to be comparable to Lebron James if he hadn’t gotten injured. In his prime, he would be face to face with Lebron and team, and he would play greatly, being able to swerve through defenders, and easily making layups, dunks, and 3s. Over a year ago, former Celtics player Kevin Garnett was invited onto a podcast, and there was a question about Derrick Rose, to which he had some good things to say about him: “Yeah D Rose right away,  I knew right away I knew there was something special.” 

On that same podcast, his former teammate, Paul Pierce, had said, “I ain’t never seen a point guard so athletic.” This had correlation to when he would swerve by huge defenders with ease, beating them to the paint and looking down on them as he dunks. He was feared by so many players when he was in his prime. There was thing going around called, “D-Rose flu.” What was happening was that people who had an upcoming game against Derrick Rose’s team, would all of a sudden catch an illness or sit out. Former NBA point guard Raymond Felton had said, “It was crazy how many people were getting sick when it was time to play Chicago.” The fear for Derrick Rose was there, and it was just like the fear of Michael Jordan back in the 90’s. 

The impact Derrick Rose had made on the NBA was substantial; he was the face of the Chicago Bulls and the NBA at the time. His accolades have proved him to be a humble, hard working, and outstanding leader. The fans of the NBA all knew about the greatness of D. Rose. We are all proud that he is able to take a step into a new journey and chapter.

What’s to happen next? We will have to find out.