“Man, I don’t care about… Not to be rude—I don’t care about no f—ing money. It’s not about that. I’ve saved up enough money.” Derrick Rose responded, in 2017, when asked whether his Adidas deal played a role in his return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Having devoted only 9 years to your chosen field, not everyone can pride themselves on having “saved up enough money” to not worry about earning more. Then again, not everyone is an NBA player, especially one who’s enjoyed remarkable success and leveraged that fame to earn even bigger contracts.

Seven years after he made that remark, Derrick Rose has gone on to play for four other franchises. His pay increased until he took a major cut from the Memphis Grizzles. Now, with the player once again on the market, he could be looking to get away from minimum contracts once and for all. However, as he stated, “I don’t care about no f—ing money.” Therefore, let us explore just how much the player has earned to make him so confident!

Derrick Rose’s net worth and career earnings

The 2011 NBA MVP’s net worth is reportedly $90 million. A significant portion of the amount is from his career earnings. The rest stems from his investments and endorsements over the years.

Drafted as the first overall pick in 2008, the Chicago Bulls gave Rose a four-year, $22.5 million rookie contract. By the end of his contract, the player had earned a spot in the All-NBA First Team. This made him eligible for a bigger raise on his next contract. Sure enough, he was given a five-year extension worth a jaw-dropping $94.3 million.

After serving eight years with the Bulls, Rose was traded to the New York Knicks in 2016. His last season with the Bulls earned him $20 million (or $25.689 million when adjusted for inflation). With one year remaining on his contract, the Knicks took charge and paid off the remaining $21.3 million (which amounts to $26.993 million when adjusted for inflation). Unfortunately, with the franchise finishing the 2016-17 season with a disappointing 31–51 record, giving Rose a larger contract didn’t seem justifiable. As a result, it was reported that the Knicks informed the player that “they were moving on.”

The player’s saga of minimum contracts began after that. The first stop was the Cleveland Cavaliers, who signed him to a 1-year, $2.1 million contract. With a cut of over $19.2 million in pay from his previous salary, Rose wouldn’t reach that pay level again.. The Timberwolves provided even a bigger blow with their 1 year, $418,607 contract in 2017 before increasing the pay to $2.39 million the next year. The Memphis Grizzlies got him a bit back on track with a $7.5 million contract in 2019 before the Knicks awarded him a 3-year, $43.56 million that would have been too hard to refuse.

Overall, after adding all the earnings that have come his way throughout his 16-year career, Derrick Rose has made $167.73 million. When adjusted for inflation, that amount is $209.8 million. Derrick Rose’s expected pay of $3.36 million reportedly makes him the 295th best-paid NBA player for the 2024-25 season. However, the $90 million that stays from his accumulated earnings has allowed him to be the 9 richest Active NBA player going into the next tournament. 532 players in the league, and Rose holds the 9 position. Talk about having “saved up enough money!”

However, it is important to note that the ranking may not be completely accurate. After all, the pay from the current contracts takes time to reflect on the net worth! Giannis’s recent extension deal of 3-year, $175 million may not have been added yet. This led him to occupy the 14 position with his $70 million net worth. No matter what, however, it is safe to say that Derrick Rose has ensured he is well taken care of.

How much more can Derrick Rose earn with his next team?

Derrick Rose recently asked to be waived from the Memphis Grizzlies at his own request. According to a report by ‘Last Word on Sports’, the player was feeling discontented with his bench role, and “wants to be more than a locker room leader. The former face of the Chicago Bulls wants to actually play.” Another franchise may provide him with the chance, and it won’t cost them much to do so!

Rose had signed a two-year contract with the Grizzlies last year. Therefore, the 3x NBA All-Star still has $3.3 million remaining in pay. After that, the franchise can extend his pay by not going lower than the previous amount. The minimum salary limit for a player with 10 or more years of experience is reportedly $3.3 million. Currently possessing 16 years of experience, there should be no reason to have him earn below the limit. However, given the injuries he sustained during the previous season, franchises may reconsider the value of acquiring the player. They will need to weigh the potential benefits against the risks of his injury history.

In time, the pay can increase to $3.6 million for 2025 and $4 million for 2026. However, at 35, and already richer than 90% of the current players, for long will the player will push himself?

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.