Derrick Rose: The Tragic Destiny of a Genius

Published on November 26, 2025 6 min. reading

There are stories that are meant to be told. Derrick Rose’s is one of them. A genius of the game destined for a (very) great future, the point guard’s career took off rapidly, only to completely unravel. Today, we tell you the tragic destiny of D. Rose—the story of a magician with innate talent who slowly faded into obscurity.

Historic Beginnings

Fresh off the boat from the University of Memphis and selected first overall in the 2008 NBA Draft, expectations surrounding the point guard were high. The reason? The Chicago native was coming home, tasked with the mission of getting his franchise back on its feet. Yes, we are talking about the Bulls, that legendary franchise defined by the Michael Jordan era in the 90s. But since 1998, the date of the Bulls’ last title, there had been dead silence and only three small playoff appearances.

Upon his arrival, nearly 10 years after the last title, D. Rose was awaited like the Messiah—the one who would allow the Bulls to reclaim their former glory. And despite the pressure, the point guard didn’t let himself be swallowed up; quite the opposite. From his very first season, “The Windy City Assassin” answered the call. 16.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 4 rebounds per match. Enough to secure him the Rookie of the Year title. But that wasn’t all. Thanks to his arrival, the Bulls returned to the playoffs after a few years of famine, though they exited in the first round.

Nevertheless, the future looked bright for Chicago… and it would be. After an excellent sophomore (second) season, Derrick Rose entered NBA history during his third year by posting 25 points, delivering 7.6 assists, and grabbing nearly 5 rebounds on average per game. A monstrous stat line across 81 games played, allowing him to become the youngest MVP in NBA history. With a record of 62 wins and 20 losses, the Bulls finished first in the Eastern Conference but were cruelly eliminated by the Miami Heat, led by the Bosh-Wade-James trio.

The Descent into Hell

In the NBA, everything moves very fast… And when destiny decides to get involved, it can sometimes be a bad mix. Unfortunately for D. Rose, the basketball gods were not on his side. During the 2011/2012 season, despite missing 27 games due to various injuries, his team finished first in the East. However, tragedy struck during Game 1 of the playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers. With the game already in hand, Rose collapsed on a bad landing. The verdict was final: a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Season over.

D. Rose made his return to the court for the 2013-2014 season after a long rehabilitation. Optimism returned, but was short-lived. In just his tenth match, against the Portland Trail Blazers, he injured his knee again. On November 25, he underwent surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee, once again putting a premature end to his season.

Everyone began to understand: Derrick Rose would probably never regain the MVP level that the 2000s generation dreamed of. And despite a burst of pride during the 2014/2015 season, where he managed to drag his franchise to the playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers—and hit a completely crazy buzzer-beater—another sledgehammer blow would lay the first stone of the end of his career.

The End of the Chicago Era

For me, for you, for all of us born in the early 2000s, this moment remains one of the biggest heartbreaks we have ever known. In the offseason, while Derrick Rose was filming a documentary about his life, he received a call from his agent in the middle of an interview and learned the news: he was traded to the New York Knicks. A gut-wrenching announcement for the Chicago native, captured by cameras, which went around the world.

From this trade onwards, the career of the number 1 pick took a different turn. The point guard bounced between franchises, passing through New York, then Cleveland, then Minnesota, before flying to Detroit where he stayed for two seasons, before making a small return to the Knicks and finishing his career in the colors of the Memphis Grizzlies, without ever managing to find stability…

The NBA was his dream. Basketball, his reason for living. But unfortunately, destiny had other plans. Aware that he would never be at the same level physically, Derrick Rose announced his retirement on September 26, 2024. An announcement that caused a seismic shift in the big league as well as an outpouring of tributes, proof that the point guard left his mark on the league for eternity. His jersey will, furthermore, be retired by the Illinois franchise and hung forever in the rafters of the United Center next season.

A Player You Couldn’t Hate

An Explosive Playstyle The first thing one thinks of when Derrick Rose’s name is mentioned is his explosiveness. Gifted with a monstrous vertical leap (he literally had dynamite in his legs), Derrick Rose punished every NBA rim with dunks that were as violent as they were spectacular. This provided him with plenty of highlights, posterizing everything that moved before his injury.

A Vision Worthy of the Greatest In addition to being a peerless point guard, Derrick Rose managed to distinguish himself from others at the position thanks to his court vision. He always managed to find his teammates in tight spaces, serving them in good conditions, keeping his eyes in the right place on every play. It’s as if he possessed the “Emperor Eye” (if you get the reference, you are geniuses. For the rest, go watch Kuroko no Basket). His ability to analyze defensive systems was also one of his great strengths, as he always managed to find the breach and score an easy basket or offer that luxury to a teammate.

A Warrior Mentality Finally, when thinking of Derrick Rose, one inevitably thinks of his mental fortitude. Despite all the trials he had to face and endure, both on and off the court, he never gave up. Even after his two successive operations, he always managed to return to the hardwood and try to make his team better. During his prime years, he was always ready to do battle—a true warrior. No matter who stood in his path, his objective was clear: take down the enemy. He threw himself at every loose ball, was a true bulldog on defense, and extremely aggressive on offense… In short, he truly gave nothing up. “Quitting” was a word unknown to him.