Derrick Rose

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Rose's path to the NBA began on the courts of Chicago's Englewood neighborhood, where his brothers Dwayne, Reggie, and Allan taught him the game. His high school career at Simeon Career Academy was legendary; he wore number 25 in honor of Ben Wilson, a player murdered in 1984. As a senior, Rose led Simeon to back-to-back state championships, including a dramatic overtime victory over Richwoods High School where he hit the game-winning jumper. He finished his high school career with a 120–12 record and was named Illinois Mr. Basketball. At the University of Memphis under coach John Calipari, Rose led the Tigers to a historic 38–2 season, their first number one ranking in 25 years, and an appearance in the NCAA championship game against Kansas. Although he missed a critical free throw in overtime as Memphis fell 75–68, his performance earned him a spot on the All-Final Four team. Tragically, an NCAA investigation later revealed that Rose's SAT scores had been invalidated due to someone else taking the test for him, resulting in the vacating of Memphis' entire 2007–08 season.

In Their Own Story

Rose's tenure with the Chicago Bulls was marked by explosive highs and heartbreaking lows. After being drafted first overall in 2008, he won Rookie of the Year immediately. His peak arrived in the 2010–11 season when he led the Bulls to the best record in the NBA and became the youngest MVP in history at age 22. However, his career was derailed by significant knee injuries. In the first round of the 2012 playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers, Rose tore his ACL in his left knee, sidelining him for the entire 2012–13 season. His return attempts were fraught with setbacks. He returned in 2013–14 only to injure his right meniscus in November 2013, missing the rest of that season. Although he played in subsequent seasons, knee injuries consistently impacted his availability and production. In June 2016, Rose was traded to the New York Knicks, finishing out his contract there before moving on to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and finally the Memphis Grizzlies.

Reader's Guide

Following his time with the Bulls, Rose navigated a series of teams while battling injuries. He signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2017–18 season but was hampered by ankle injuries, leading to a trade to the Utah Jazz in February 2018 where he was subsequently waived. A month later, he joined the Minnesota Timberwolves on a rest-of-season contract, staying through the following year and finding success as a sixth man. In the 2019–20 season, the Detroit Pistons signed him to his first non-minimum salary contract since 2017, where he continued to excel off the bench. In the following season, Rose was reunited with former coach Tom Thibodeau when the New York Knicks re-acquired him in a trade. His journey concluded with the Memphis Grizzlies; he signed for them in free agency in July 2023. In September 2024, the Grizzlies released him, and he subsequently announced his retirement.

Did You Know?

• Rose became the youngest player to win the NBA MVP award at 22 years and 7 months old in 2011.
• He wore number 25 at Simeon Career Academy to honor Ben Wilson, a promising player murdered in 1984.
• His college season with Memphis was vacated by the NCAA after an investigation revealed his SAT scores were invalid.
• Rose tore his ACL in his left knee during the first round of the 2012 playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers.
• He led the University of Memphis to a 38–2 record, setting an NCAA mark for most wins in a season at that time.