Derrick Rose, the youngest NBA MVP in history, announced his retirement from the sport on Thursday, ending his 16-year career in the league.
In a statement released to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Rose expressed excitement for his post-playing career while offering a unique perspective on his mindset about life and basketball.
“The next chapter is about chasing my dreams and sharing my growth,” Rose said. “I believe true success comes from becoming who you were created to be, and I want to show the world who I am beyond basketball. Whether good or bad, everyone has a ‘What if’ story in their life. Even if I could, I wouldn’t change anything in mine, because it’s what helped me find real joy.”
The 35-year-old also shared a post on social media that included pages from local newspapers of the six cities he played in — Chicago, New York, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Detroit and Memphis — while thanking each fanbase for supporting him in his journey.