Derrick Rose, former Bulls MVP, retires from the NBA after 16 seasons with 6 teams

Former NBA MVP Derrick Rose is retiring, the 35-year-old guard said The athleteHe made his announcement official Thursday morning via social media and through ads in local newspapers in the six NBA cities where he played: Chicago, New York, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Detroit and Memphis.

The Chicago Bulls selected Rose from Memphis with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, and the Chicago native remains the youngest player in league history to be named MVP, doing so in 2011 at age 22. The three-time All-Star was the NBA’s most productive during his time in Chicago, averaging 19.7 points, 6.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game in seven seasons.

After moving from Chicago, he played for the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons before signing with the Memphis Grizzlies before last season. The athlete reported earlier this week that the Grizzlies would waive Rose.

“The next chapter is about chasing my dreams and sharing my growth. I believe true success comes from becoming who you were created to be and I want to show the world who I am beyond basketball,” Rose said in a statement to The athlete.

“For better or for worse, everyone has a ‘what if’ story in their life. Even if I could, I wouldn’t change mine because it helped me find true joy.”

Rose was named Rookie of the Year in 2009 after averaging 16.8 points and 6.3 assists per game, and the first of his three All-Star seasons followed in 2009-10. In his third season, Rose started 81 games, averaged 25.0 points and 7.7 assists per game, and led the Bulls to a 62-20 NBA regular-season record and MVP honors.

The Bulls went 50-16 in the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season, tying the San Antonio Spurs for the league’s best team. However, a torn ACL in Chicago’s first round game against the Philadelphia 76ers ended Rose’s career and limited the athleticism he once dominated at the basket. Despite this serious injury, Rose remained in the league for a total of 16 seasons.

Over the course of his career, Rose averaged 17.4 points and 5.2 assists in 723 regular season games.

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(Photo: Joe Murphy / NBAE via Getty Images)