“Around that time, I was still trying to figure out if I still wanted to play. Just trying to figure out my route, if I wanted to stay or leave,” Derrick Rose said after the NY Knicks declined his contract option in 2023. A year later, the lasting despair continues to linger on the former MVP. The 35-year-old’s journey with the Memphis Grizzlies came to an end sooner than expected as the franchise waived him days ahead of training camp. While a 4x NBA Champ drew inspiration from the hoops veteran for his grit, some think it could be curtains.

Rose started his career with a bang as the #1 pick in 2008 and went on to become the NBA’s youngest MVP at 21. When everyone expected him to take off from there, a grave knee injury altered his life. His situation changed from a star MVP rookie to a bench veteran. Following his 7-season stint with the Chicago Bulls, he hopped around multiple teams trying to find a permanent spot.

Derrick Rose then finally reached the Grizzlies for a two-year contract worth $6.5 million. The first season didn’t go as planned, as he sustained an injury and ended up playing only 24 games, averaging 8.0 points. But it wasn’t just Rose, who suffered an injury. It was almost half the side, including Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, Desmond Bane, and many more.

While everyone expected the team to return to full fitness, the Grizzlies’ management seriously surprised everyone by waiving Rose. Stefan Bondy of the NY Post then dropped a shocking insight on X. He wrote, “Derrick Rose told me he considered retirement a year ago after the Knicks didn’t want to bring him back. Now that he’s been waived by the Grizzlies, per @ShamsCharania wonder if that’s it for the youngest MVP in NBA history,” hinting at a retirement announcement.

Moreover, Derrick Rose didn’t address his retirement plans directly, but revealed the inspiration which he had derived from Vince Carter. The hooper said, “With longevity, that comes with becoming a journeyman. You look at Vince Carter. You look at how many teams he played on, the years he played. It just makes sense.” Carter, who holds the record for playing the most NBA seasons (22), has represented 11 franchises in his career. While Rose is nowhere near those numbers, his past comments have left everyone with an important question. 

Did Derrick Rose request the Grizzlies to waive him?

Derrick Rose truly had an inspiring comeback journey following his injury. The star relentlessly hopped on different teams to keep his career alive despite the shine from past accolades. Speaking of which, Klay Thompson remarked, “Derrick at 34, it’s incredible… It motivates me to keep working,” in 2022, after returning to the NBA, recovering from career-altering injuries. While the ex-Bulls hooper pushed it for two more years after that praise, he doesn’t seem to have the drive anymore, per the latest from the rumor mill!

Ian Begley of SNY, on his X post, wrote, “My understanding on Derrick Rose, per sources familiar with the matter: Memphis let Rose out of his contract. Look for Rose to prove an update on what’s next for him later this week.”

Many other sources have also reported that the Grizzlies parted ways with the hooper after his request. On the other end, some argued that Derrick Rose might retire, stating that he might not find a new franchise with only weeks left for the new season. Nevertheless, with franchises like the Golden State Warriors and Lakers desperate to trade, the veteran might easily get a final spot. The bottom line is that Derrick Rose has not retired yet. Do you think he will retire? Let us know in the comments.

Before leaving, do watch the Dual Threat Show hosted by BG12 where Bulldogs’ Asia Avinger details her experience with Kobe Bryant, her WNBA ROTY picks, and more in the video below.