According to the Jeetbuzz Login Center, Derrick Rose’s final year in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies was largely forgettable. He played in only 24 games due to injuries and failed to take on a leadership or mentorship role either on or off the court. The Grizzlies were plagued by injuries last season, from star Ja Morant to the entire starting lineup and rotation players, yet even in the team’s most desperate moments, Rose remained on the sidelines, unable to contribute meaningfully.
It’s hard to believe that the fading veteran seen in Memphis is the same explosive talent that burst onto the scene 16 years ago. Back then, Rose was a once-in-a-generation phenom. Ironically, it was also in Memphis—while playing for the University of Memphis—that his star first began to rise. As a freshman, he averaged 14.9 points and 4.7 assists, leading the Tigers to an astonishing 33–1 record and a deep run in the NCAA tournament. On college basketball’s biggest stage, March Madness, Rose showcased his full potential, boosting his averages to 21.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game and carrying his team to the championship game. Though they lost in heartbreaking fashion during overtime, Rose’s draft stock had already skyrocketed.
After the tournament, Rose, who had been groomed under the tutelage of legendary coach John Calipari, was a lock for the No. 1 overall pick. As fate would have it, his hometown team—the Chicago Bulls—secured that top pick. Rose’s rookie season was a dream come true. He logged 37 minutes per game, quickly became the team’s cornerstone, and led the Bulls back into playoff contention. Though still raw, he faced off against the defending champion Celtics in the first round and stunned the basketball world with a 36-point debut in Boston. That series stretched to seven games with four overtimes, further cementing his status as Chicago’s next great hope.
The disappointment of that playoff exit didn’t dim the city’s optimism. If anything, it fanned the flames. Over the next two seasons, Rose ascended rapidly. In his second year, he earned an All-Star selection off the bench, becoming the youngest All-Star in Bulls history. By the 2010 playoffs, his averages had soared to 26.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 7.2 assists. Then came the breakthrough: in his third season, Rose averaged 25.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.7 assists in the regular season, led the Bulls to a 62–20 record, and was named league MVP at just 22—the youngest in NBA history.
This achievement not only made headlines but also rewrote the rulebook. In the wake of Rose’s MVP, the NBA and its players’ union amended the collective bargaining agreement during the 2011 lockout to include what became known as the “Derrick Rose Rule.” This provision allowed young stars who earned elite honors—such as MVP—while still on rookie contracts to sign max extensions worth 30% of the salary cap. Since then, more than a dozen players including Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, Paul George, Anthony Davis, and Luka Dončić have benefited from this clause—an enduring legacy of Rose’s impact on the game.
But just as his star reached its zenith, it began to fall. The 2011–12 season, shortened to 66 games due to the lockout, saw Rose plagued by injuries. He missed 27 games, yet still made the All-Star team and led the Bulls to the top seed in the East. Disaster struck in the playoffs: a torn ACL in Game 1 against the 76ers not only ended his season but also derailed the Bulls’ title hopes. What followed was a long, painful rehab process. Rose returned in late 2013, only to suffer another season-ending injury—a torn meniscus in his other knee.
Those back-to-back knee injuries robbed Rose of the explosive agility that had defined his game. His signature moves—lightning-quick crossovers and acrobatic, twisting layups—were never the same. While Rose eventually made it back onto the court, the Bulls had changed. The roster, coaching staff, and team culture had moved on. Jimmy Butler emerged as the new leader, and Rose had to accept that he was no longer the heart of Chicago basketball.
In 2016, Rose was traded to the New York Knicks, signaling a new chapter in his career—one that resembled more of a journeyman’s path. Over the following years, he played for the Knicks, Cavaliers, Timberwolves, Pistons, and finally, the Grizzlies. With each stop, his role diminished, and by 2025, he had quietly spent 16 seasons in the league. His 36th birthday is just around the corner, and the spotlight has long since shifted to new stars like Stephen Curry and James Harden. In a league dominated by perimeter shooting, Rose’s lack of a reliable three-point shot became a glaring liability, hastening his decline.
Still, as Rose steps away from the game, the Jeetbuzz Login team can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia and respect. His prime years may have been fleeting, but their impact was profound. He was a symbol of raw, unfiltered athleticism—a reminder that once upon a time, you could dominate the NBA with fearless drives and physical artistry rather than outside shooting. Those days are gone, but Derrick Rose’s legacy lives on, a rose that bloomed brightly, even if not forever.