Memphis Grizzlies guard Derrick Rose considered retiring from the NBA after the New York Knicks didn’t re-sign him last offseason.
Rose, the youngest MVP in NBA history, only played in 27 games for the Knicks last season. He was removed from the rotation in December and New York declined his 2024-25 player option worth $15.6 million.
“Around that time, I was still trying to figure out if I still wanted to play,” Rose told Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. “Just trying to figure out my route, if I wanted to stay or leave.”
Rose wound up not retiring. He signed a two-year, $6.5 million contract with the Grizzlies. The Chicago native told Bondy that he has no hard feelings toward Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau for how his New York tenure ended last season.
“I haven’t talked to Thibs since Jalen’s wedding (July 29). But it’s good,” Rose said. “He sent me a bottle of champagne for my wedding. Like a vintage bottle, too. So it’s love. That relationship, it won’t be strained. Even when they said they’re going in a different direction, I can’t be mad at Thibs for that.”
Rose has only appeared in 18 games for the Grizzlies this season due to injuries. He’s averaging 8.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 44.5% from the field, 33.3% from 3 and 90.9% from the foul line.
A three-time All-Star, Rose has played for the Chicago Bulls, Knicks (twice), Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons and Grizzlies. He’s now considered a journeyman.
“It feels weird, but at the same time, knowing and understand the business, you’re not going to be in one place your whole career,” Rose said. “With me, I’m kind of becoming a journeyman. It’s part of the deal. … You look at Vince Carter. You look at how many teams he played on, the years he played. It just makes sense.”
Rose has career averages of 17.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists. He was the first overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.
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