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Derrick Rose, a basketball veteran with 16 years of experience in the NBA, who was named Rookie of the Year in 2009 and MVP in 2011, announced his retirement from professional basketball on Thursday. NBA players, including Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks, are honoring his incredible career with heartfelt tributes.

Derrick Rose, who retired from the NBA on Thursday, dropped 50 points on the Utah Jazz in 2018. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

D Rose Forever a Legend

— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) September 26, 2024

While he may no longer be contributing on the court, Rose leaves a legacy behind that is uniquely his. Let's take a look at some of the best moments from his career.

Drafted first overall in 2008

Born and raised in Chicago, Rose getting drafted first overall by his hometown Chicago Bulls in 2008 was straight out of a storybook.

“With the 1st pick in the 2008 NBA Draft…”

Looking back at when it all began for Derrick Rose. https://t.co/bDcv4h1MPM pic.twitter.com/URtK9L0dtQ

— No Ceilings (@NoCeilingsNBA) September 26, 2024

Wins Rookie of the Year in 2009

The fairytale continued during the 2008-09 NBA season. He won Rookie of the Year, and had a dynamite playoff debut.

The second DRose stepped foot in the NBA, you could tell he was a problem

He was named 2008-09 Rookie of the Year after averaging 16.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.2 assists. pic.twitter.com/YGQh1EjedM

— Kicks (@kicks) September 26, 2024

14 Years Ago Today
20-year-old Derrick Rose's impressive Playoff debut: 36 PTS (12/19 FG, 12/12 FT) & 11 AST

Ben Gordon on Rose: "He's poised beyond his years. He already carries himself like a veteran out there." pic.twitter.com/KYT1kQC7tD

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) April 18, 2023

Becomes youngest player in NBA history to win MVP in 2011

Just two years after winning Rookie of the Year, Rose — just 22 at the time — had a monster season.

Two minutes of Derrick Rose just carving up the defense and finishing below the rim during his 2010-2011 MVP season.

This is poetry. pic.twitter.com/2ns8Ud7VuK

— Timeless Sports (@timelesssports_) April 18, 2020

.@drose was a force to be reckoned with in his '10-11 MVP season!

At 22 years old, he's the youngest player to have ever won the award. #MVPMondays pic.twitter.com/fhZioRAu1R

— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 17, 2018

His exceptional season won him the MVP in 2011, and he remains the youngest player to ever win the award.

My lasting memory of Derrick Rose won’t be the incredible highlights of his career, but his incredibly humbling MVP speech where he gave loving tribute to his mother’s effort to raise him into the athlete he became.

Impossible to watch without crying. #ThankYouDRose pic.twitter.com/pP5z3gGTcA

— FAKE (@FakePearBear) September 26, 2024

Sinks buzzer-beater against the Cavs in 2015 playoffs

The Bulls were eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2015 playoffs, but not before Rose stole a win for the Bulls with a Game 3 buzzer-beater.

In honor of @drose's birthday, we look back at his buzzer-beater against the Cavs in 2015. pic.twitter.com/6wxP0W6YQb

— ESPN (@espn) October 4, 2018

Scores a career-high 50 points against the Jazz in 2018

Rose, who by 2017 had endured four knee surgeries over the course of his career, came alive on Oct. 31, 2018 against the Utah Jazz. He dropped a career-high 50 points that night, which turned out to be incredibly emotional for him.

In honor of Derrick Rose retiring

Here’s him dropping a career high 50 points against the Jazz after years of fighting through injuries pic.twitter.com/5mJFzHQb5A

— Synthetic Sports (@SyntheticSports) September 26, 2024

An emotional Derrick Rose explained what his 50-point game meant to him.

"Everything, man. I worked my ass off..." pic.twitter.com/X3xZ76VvRQ

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 1, 2018

According to Rose's teammate Jeff Teague, Rose said before the game that he was going to score 50 on the Jazz. And as he got closer and closer, the entire Timberwolves team began to break out in tears watching their teammate, who had been through so much, own the court like that.

Breaks out for Knicks in 2021 playoffs

After the Pistons traded Rose to the Knicks in 2021, he put up a pair of impressive games in New York's first-round matchup against Atlanta. In Game 2 of the series, he put up 26 points off the bench in the Knicks' lone win of the series. He started Game 3 and dropped 30 points, again leading all Knicks scorers.

Remember that time Derrick Rose won the Knicks a playoff game? pic.twitter.com/yfUndVJcU7

— The Strickland (@TheStrickland) September 23, 2024