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The 35-year-old former point guard for the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks shared a poignant photo on Instagram, featuring himself in front of a chess set while holding a newspaper that conveyed a touching message to the sport. In his post, Rose described basketball as his "first love," reflecting on how the game opened doors to experiences and cultures he could never have imagined as a child from Chicago.
He noted that every setback provided a valuable lesson, while each triumph was a moment to be thankful. "You gave me a gift, our time together, one that I will cherish for the rest of my days. You told me it’s okay to say goodbye, reassuring me that you’ll always be a part of me, no matter where life takes me," he wrote.
Additionally, Rose took out full-page advertisements in the cities where he played—Chicago, New York, Detroit, Cleveland, Minneapolis, and Memphis—to express his gratitude to the fans in each location.
This week, the Memphis Grizzlies honored Rose’s request to release him from the final year of his two-year contract.
Selected as the number one overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft, Rose spent the early part of his career with his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls. He was named Rookie of the Year in 2008-09 and earned All-Star honors for the following three seasons.
Standing at 6 feet 2 inches (1.91m), he became the youngest MVP in NBA history at the age of 22 during the 2010-11 season, averaging 25.0 points and 7.7 assists per game as the Bulls advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. However, his career faced significant challenges after he tore his ACL in the first round of the 2012 playoffs, leading to a missed entire season and limited appearances in 2013-14. His eight-year tenure with the Bulls concluded when he was traded to the New York Knicks in the summer of 2016.
Rose's career, frequently affected by knee injuries, concluded with an average of 17.4 points and 5.2 assists over 723 games, of which he started 518.