“The psychological assumption automatically provides the means to fulfill the dream desire.” This was the caption accompanying Derrick Rose’s retirement announcement on instagram. It is this psychological assumption or mindset that shaped his incredible career, taking him from a kid from the south side of Chicago to league MVP  and kept him going when everyone counted him out!

A kid from  Englewood

Derrick Rose grew up in Englewood,  one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the City of Chicago. From a young age Rose was surrounded by drugs and violence. The neighborhood of Englewood has some of the highest crime rates in the country with an average of 646 crimes a year. Growing up, Rose would spend most of his time at the neighborhood’s basketball court, Murray Park. It was here that Rose first began to build a reputation.

“That was the only park in our neighborhood. Everyone met up at that park,”  he told WGN news.” I was probably 12 or 13 years old and usually when the older guys come on the court they kick you off the court. I was the only guy that could actually play with the older guys… I’m happy that we had that court in our neighborhood because if we didnt I would be lost right now.

By the time Rose reached highschool he was already a phenom. He led his team to back to back state championships. By the time he was graduating high school he was ranked as the 5th best prospect in the country by Sports Illustrated. 

 Rose went on to play basketball at University of Memphis, where he would average just under 15 points a game in his lone season with the team. After his freshman year, he declared for the draft and was drafted by the Bulls with the first overall pick in the 2008 draft. 

Why not me? 

Rose’s  career with the Bulls started with bang. In his rookie season he averaged just under 17 points a game and won Rookie of the Year. By his third year in the league, Rose was coming off his first all-star season and was looking like the best point guard in the league, but his aspirations were much higher.

“The way I look at it within myself, why not? Why can’t I be the MVP of the league,” he asked. “Why can’t I be the best player in the league? I don’t see why [not]. Why can’t I do that?”

That season, Rose made history by becoming the youngest MVP in the history of the NBA. The next season, disaster would strike when Rose tore his ACL during the playoffs, causing him to miss the entire 2012-2013 season. 

In an interview with BullsTV, Rose explained how mentally taxing rehab was for him. 

“It was hard, one of the hardest things I had to go through in my life.” 

After missing a full season, Rose returned in 2014, but his comeback was cut short by an MCL tear that required season-ending surgery.

Superhero 

In 2015, Rose was traded to the New York Knicks where he would play for one year before being traded to the Cavaliers. Over the next seven seasons he would bounce around the NBA, playing for the Knicks, Timberwolves, Pistons and Grizzlies  

Although many thought he wouldn’t have the explosiveness he had before,he  kept working and showing glimpses of  the MVP caliber player he was in Chicago. On Halloween, in 2018 Rose scored a career high fifty points in a 128-125 victory over the Jazz. Check out the highlights below. 

After the game, teammates from around the league weighed in on his accomplishment, including former teammate, Lebron James. 

“When you talk about perseverance, that is the true definition of it.” James told  reporters. “Even when a superhero is knocked down, he is still a superhero at the end of the day, and Derrick showed why he is a superhero.”

Legacy 

Throughout his career, Derek Rose has worked hard to give back to the community. He has donated one million dollars to After School Matters, a Chicago based program that creates after school programs for teenagers.  

“My message to our kids is simple – you matter, you deserve every opportunity in life, and you can and should dream big because dreams can come true,”he told reporters after the donation. 

In his retirement, he hopes to focus on a motivational speaking career. 

Derrick Rose could have given up a long time ago. Growing up in Englewood, he faced challenges that would have deterred many. After enduring multiple knee surgeries—first, second, third, and even fourth—he could have easily chosen to retire, and no one would have blamed him. Yet, he kept working relentlessly, demonstrating an unwavering mindset that refused to back down in the face of adversity.

After a decade and a half in the NBA, Derrick not only leaves a legacy for his family, but also serves as an inspiring example for kids everywhere.