Derrick Rose facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

"D Rose" redirects here. For the song by Lil Pump, see D Rose (song).

Quick facts for kids
Derrick Rose

Rose with the Chicago Bulls in 2011

Personal information

Born

October 4, 1988 (age 36)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

High school

Simeon Career Academy
(Chicago, Illinois)

Listed height

6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)

Listed weight

200 lb (91 kg)

Career information

College

Memphis (2007–2008)

NBA Draft

2008 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall

Selected by the Chicago Bulls

Pro career

2008–2024

Career history

2008–2016

Chicago Bulls

2016–2017

New York Knicks

2017–2018

Cleveland Cavaliers

2018–2019

Minnesota Timberwolves

2019–2021

Detroit Pistons

2021–2023

New York Knicks

2023–2024

Memphis Grizzlies

Career highlights and awards

NBA Most Valuable Player (2011)
3× NBA All-Star (2010–2012)
All-NBA First Team (2011)
NBA Rookie of the Year (2009)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (2009)
No. 1 scheduled to be retired by Chicago Bulls
Third-team All-American – AP, NABC (2008)
First-team Parade All-American (2007)
Third-team Parade All-American (2005)
Fourth-team Parade All-American (2006)
McDonald's All-American (2007)
Illinois Mr. Basketball (2007)

Career NBA statistics

Points

12,573 (17.4 ppg)

Rebounds

2,324 (3.2 rpg)

Assists

3,770 (5.2 apg)

Medals

Men's basketball

Representing United States
FIBA World Cup
Gold	2010 Turkey	Team
Gold	2014 Spain	Team

Derrick Martell Rose (born October 4, 1988) is an American former professional basketball player. He played one year of college basketball for the Memphis Tigers. After that, his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, chose him first in the 2008 NBA draft. People called him "D-Rose" or "Pooh".

In 2009, he won the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Then, in 2011, he became the youngest player ever to win the NBA Most Valuable Player Award (MVP). He was only 22 years and 7 months old!

Derrick grew up in Chicago and went to Simeon Career Academy. He was a top player in high school and chose to play for the University of Memphis. He helped the Tigers win a record 38 games and reach the NCAA championship game. Later, the NCAA decided that some rules were not followed during his time there, which led to the team's 2007–08 season records being changed.

Throughout his career, Derrick faced many knee injuries. In 2012, he tore a ligament in his left knee and missed a whole season. He came back in 2013 but then injured his right knee, missing more games. These injuries made it hard for him to play consistently.

He played for the New York Knicks in 2016 and then the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017. After a brief time with the Utah Jazz, he joined the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2018. He found a new role as a "sixth man" (a key player who comes off the bench). In 2019, he signed with the Detroit Pistons and continued to play well. He returned to the New York Knicks in 2021 and later played for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2023. Derrick Rose announced his retirement from basketball in September 2024. The Chicago Bulls plan to retire his number 1 jersey in the 2025–26 season.

Derrick's Early Life in Chicago

Derrick Rose grew up in the Englewood area of Chicago. This neighborhood is on the city's South Side. He is the youngest of four brothers. His older brothers, Dwayne, Reggie, and Allan, were also good basketball players. They taught Derrick how to play on local courts.

As Derrick's basketball skills grew, more people in Chicago noticed him. His mom and brothers worked hard to protect him. They wanted to make sure he could focus on his dream of playing in the NBA.

High School Basketball Star

When Derrick started at Simeon Career Academy in 2003, college coaches were already interested in him. He wore jersey number 25 to honor Ben "Benji" Wilson, a talented player who was sadly killed in 1984.

At first, Derrick played on the freshman and junior varsity teams. The coach had a rule against freshmen on the main varsity team. But Derrick was amazing, leading his teams to city championships. The next year, a new coach took over, and Derrick joined the varsity team.

Winning State Championships

In 2006, during his junior year, Derrick led the Simeon Wolverines to win the Chicago Public League championship. He scored 25 points in that game. The team then went on to win the Class AA state championship. Derrick made a game-winning shot at the very end of overtime! This was Simeon's first state title since 1984.

In his senior year, Derrick was one of the top high school players in the country. He led Simeon to win the Public League and state championships again. This made Simeon the first Chicago Public League school to win two state titles in a row. Derrick averaged 25.2 points, 9.1 assists, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.4 steals that year.

Overall, Simeon's record with Derrick playing was an amazing 120 wins and only 12 losses. After high school, he was named Illinois Mr. Basketball and chosen for the McDonald's All-American team. His jersey number 25 was retired by Simeon, just like Ben Wilson's.

College Career at Memphis

Derrick Rose playing for the University of Memphis

Derrick chose to play college basketball for the Memphis Tigers under coach John Calipari. He picked Memphis because they had a history of sending players to the NBA. He also liked that Rod Strickland, a former NBA player, would help mentor him. Derrick wore number 23 at Memphis.

With Derrick on the team, the Tigers started the 2007–08 season ranked third in the nation. They won 26 games in a row and became the number one team in the country! Memphis won the Conference USA tournament and made it to the "Big Dance" (NCAA Tournament) with a 33–1 record. Derrick averaged 14.9 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game.

Reaching the NCAA Championship

Memphis was the top seed in their region of the NCAA Tournament. Derrick played great defense and led the Tigers to an 85–67 win over UCLA in the Final Four. This win set a new NCAA record for most wins in a season (38).

In the championship game against the Kansas Jayhawks, Derrick scored 17 points. But Memphis lost in overtime, 75–68. Even with the loss, Derrick was named to the All-Final Four team.

After his amazing freshman year, Derrick decided to enter the 2008 NBA draft. He gave up his last three years of college to become a professional player.

Professional NBA Career

Chicago Bulls: Rookie of the Year and MVP

Derrick Rose during his rookie season

The Chicago Bulls picked Derrick Rose first overall in the 2008 NBA draft. He was the first Bulls player since Michael Jordan to score 10 or more points in his first 10 games. He won the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month award multiple times.

During the All-Star Weekend, Derrick won the Skills Challenge. He was the first rookie to ever win it! The Bulls made the playoffs, and Derrick was named Rookie of the Year. He was the first top draft pick since LeBron James to win this award. He averaged 16.8 points and 6.3 assists per game.

In his first playoff game against the Boston Celtics, Derrick scored 36 points and had 11 assists. This tied an NBA record for points scored by a rookie in their playoff debut.

First All-Star Selection

In his second season (2009–10), Derrick was chosen for his first All-Star Game. He was the first Bulls player picked for the All-Star team since Michael Jordan in 1998. The Bulls made the playoffs again but lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

MVP Season: Youngest Ever!

Rose led the Bulls to 62 wins, and the best record overall, during the 2010–11 NBA season.

The 2010–11 season was incredible for Derrick. On January 17, 2011, he got his first career triple-double (scoring at least 10 in points, rebounds, and assists). He was also voted a starting guard for the 2011 NBA All-Star Team.

On February 17, he scored a career-high 42 points against the San Antonio Spurs. The Bulls finished the season with the best record in the league, 62 wins and 20 losses.

On May 3, Derrick Rose was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP). At 22 years and 6 months old, he became the youngest player ever to win the award! He joined Michael Jordan as the only Bulls players to receive this honor. In the playoffs, the Bulls reached the Eastern Conference Finals but lost to the Miami Heat.

ACL Tear and Injuries

Rose in 2011

In December 2011, Derrick signed a big contract extension with the Bulls. But during Game 1 of the 2012 NBA playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers, he injured his left knee. An MRI showed he tore his ACL, which meant he would miss the rest of the playoffs and the entire 2012–13 season.

Derrick worked hard to recover. He returned in October 2013 for the new season. However, in November 2013, he injured his right knee, tearing his meniscus. This meant another surgery and missing the rest of the 2013–14 season.

He returned again for the 2014–15 season. He played in 51 games, the most since his MVP year. In the playoffs, he had some amazing games, including a game-winning three-pointer against the Cleveland Cavaliers. But the Bulls lost that series.

The 2015–16 season was his last with the Bulls. He played 66 games, but his production had changed due to the injuries. The Bulls missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

New York Knicks (2016–2017)

Rose defending Kyrie Irving in 2016

In June 2016, Derrick was traded to the New York Knicks. He chose to wear number 25, his high school number. He felt the Knicks, with him, Carmelo Anthony, and Kristaps Porziņģis, could be a "super team."

He played his first game for the Knicks on October 25. On November 4, he returned to Chicago to play against his former team, the Bulls, and the Knicks won. He scored a season-high 30 points in November.

In January 2017, Derrick had another knee injury. He tore the meniscus in his left knee, needing his fourth knee surgery. This ended his season, and the Knicks did not make the playoffs.

Cleveland Cavaliers (2017–2018)

Rose with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017

In July 2017, Derrick signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, joining LeBron James. He scored 14 points in his first game with them. However, ankle injuries caused him to miss many games. He even took a break from the team to think about his future in basketball. He returned in January 2018.

Minnesota Timberwolves (2018–2019)

Rose with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2018

In February 2018, Derrick was traded to the Utah Jazz, but they waived him (released him from his contract) two days later. In March, he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, reuniting with his former Bulls coach, Tom Thibodeau. He played well in the playoffs, averaging 14.2 points.

He re-signed with the Timberwolves for the 2018–19 season. On October 31, 2018, Derrick had an amazing game. He scored a career-high 50 points in a 128–125 win against the Utah Jazz. He even blocked Utah's final shot to secure the victory! After the game, an emotional Derrick cried, and fans chanted "MVP!" Many players around the league praised him for his comeback.

He continued to play well, scoring 31 points against the Los Angeles Lakers and reaching 10,000 career points in January 2019. However, more injuries, this time to his ankle and elbow, ended his season early.

Detroit Pistons (2019–2021)

In July 2019, Derrick signed with the Detroit Pistons. He quickly made an impact, scoring a game-winning shot against the New Orleans Pelicans in December. He became the first Pistons player to have seven games in a row scoring 20+ points as a reserve player. He averaged 22 points in January 2020. Despite his strong play, the Pistons struggled as a team.

Return to New York (2021–2023)

In February 2021, Derrick was traded back to the New York Knicks, reuniting with coach Tom Thibodeau again. He immediately helped the Knicks' offense, scoring 14 points in his first game back. He was a key player coming off the bench and finished third in the voting for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.

In the 2021 playoffs, Derrick started some games and led the Knicks in scoring, averaging 19.4 points per game. However, the Knicks lost their series to the Atlanta Hawks, and Derrick suffered another knee injury.

The Knicks signed Derrick to a new contract in August 2021. He continued to play well, but more ankle injuries in December 2021 and February 2022 kept him off the court. In the 2022–23 season, he played fewer minutes and was eventually removed from the Knicks' main rotation. In June 2023, the Knicks decided not to keep him for the next season, making him a free agent.

Memphis Grizzlies (2023–2024)

In July 2023, Derrick signed with the Memphis Grizzlies. He chose to wear number 23, the same number he wore in college at the University of Memphis. He received a warm welcome from fans in his debut. He scored a season-high 19 points in December 2023. However, hamstring and back injuries limited him to only 24 games during the season.

On September 23, 2024, the Grizzlies waived Derrick. Three days later, he announced his retirement from basketball. The Chicago Bulls plan to honor him and retire his number 1 jersey in the 2025–26 season.

Derrick Rose's Player Style

Derrick Rose is 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds. He mainly played as a point guard. Throughout his career, he averaged 17.4 points per game. He was named NBA MVP in 2011 and Rookie of the Year in 2009.

In his best years with the Chicago Bulls, Derrick was known as one of the most athletic point guards ever. He was super explosive, could jump very high (40 inches!), and was incredibly fast. This allowed him to drive to the basket often and score with amazing acrobatic moves, even against taller players.

After his injuries, Derrick changed his game. He became more patient and creative with his shots. He learned to use "floaters" (a soft shot over defenders) and "push shots" more often. He also improved his three-point shooting later in his career, especially during his second time with the New York Knicks, where he shot over 40 percent from deep.

Derrick was also praised for his leadership and for helping younger players on his teams.

Career Statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

NBA Regular Season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2008–09	Chicago	81	80	37.0	.475	.222	.788	3.9	6.3	.8	.2	16.8
2009–10	Chicago	78	78	36.8	.489	.267	.766	3.8	6.0	.7	.3	20.8
2010–11	Chicago	81	81	37.4	.445	.332	.858	4.1	7.7	1.0	.6	25.0
2011–12	Chicago	39	39	35.2	.435	.312	.812	3.4	7.9	.9	.7	21.8
2013–14	Chicago	10	10	31.1	.354	.340	.844	3.2	4.3	.5	.1	15.9
2014–15	Chicago	51	51	30.0	.405	.280	.813	3.2	4.9	.7	.3	17.7
2015–16	Chicago	66	66	31.8	.427	.293	.793	3.4	4.7	.7	.2	16.4
2016–17	New York	64	64	32.5	.471	.217	.874	3.8	4.4	.7	.3	18.0
2017–18	Cleveland	16	7	19.2	.439	.250	.854	1.8	1.6	.2	.3	9.8
2017–18	Minnesota	9	0	12.4	.426	.167	1.000	.7	1.2	.4	.0	5.8
2018–19	Minnesota	51	13	27.3	.482	.370	.856	2.7	4.3	.6	.2	18.0
2019–20	Detroit	50	15	26.0	.490	.306	.871	2.4	5.6	.8	.3	18.1
2020–21	Detroit	15	0	22.8	.429	.333	.840	1.9	4.2	1.2	.3	14.2
2020–21	New York	35	3	26.8	.487	.411	.883	2.5	4.2	.9	.4	14.9
2021–22	New York	26	4	24.5	.445	.402	.968	3.0	4.0	.8	.5	12.0
2022–23	New York	27	0	12.5	.384	.302	.917	1.5	1.7	.3	.2	5.6
2023–24	Memphis	24	7	16.6	.461	.366	.889	1.9	3.3	.3	.1	8.0
Career		723	518	30.5	.456	.316	.831	3.2	5.2	.7	.3	17.4
All-Star		3	2	21.2	.517	.667	.500	1.3	4.0	1.3	.0	11.0

NBA Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2009	Chicago	7	7	44.7	.492	.000	.800	6.3	6.4	.6	.7	19.7
2010	Chicago	5	5	42.4	.456	.333	.818	3.4	7.2	.8	.0	26.8
2011	Chicago	16	16	40.6	.396	.248	.828	4.3	7.7	1.4	.7	27.1
2012	Chicago	1	1	37.0	.391	.500	1.000	9.0	9.0	1.0	1.0	23.0
2015	Chicago	12	12	37.8	.396	.348	.897	4.8	6.5	1.2	.5	20.3
2018	Minnesota	5	0	23.8	.509	.700	.857	1.8	2.6	.4	.0	14.2
2021	New York	5	3	35.0	.476	.471	1.000	4.0	5.0	.4	.2	19.4
2023	New York	1	0	3.0	.000	.000	—	.0	1.0	.0	.0	.0
Career		52	44	37.7	.426	.322	.845	4.3	6.3	.9	.5	21.9

College Statistics

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2007–08	Memphis	40	40	29.2	.477	.337	.712	4.5	4.7	1.2	.4	14.9

Awards and Achievements

NBA Awards

NBA Most Valuable Player: 2011
3-time NBA All-Star: 2010, 2011, 2012
All-NBA First Team: 2011
NBA Rookie of the Year: 2009
NBA All-Rookie First Team: 2009
Skills Challenge Champion: 2009

College Awards

NCAA Tournament All-Final Four Team: 2008
Conference USA Freshman of the Year: 2008
All-American Third Team: 2008

High School Awards

2-time Class AA State Champion: 2006, 2007
Illinois Mr. Basketball: 2007
McDonald's All-American: 2007
First-team Parade All-American: 2007

Derrick's Personal Life

Derrick Rose is a Christian and has spoken about his faith. He wears a wristband that says "In Jesus' Name I Play." He also has several tattoos about his beliefs.

Derrick has a son, Derrick Jr., born in 2012. In 2023, he married Alaina Anderson. They have two children together: a daughter named Layla (born 2018) and a son named London (born 2019).

Derrick is also a big fan of chess. He even started a scholarship program called The Rose Scholars to help students go to college.

Endorsement Deals

Derrick Rose was featured on the cover of the video game NBA 2K13. He also had his own game, NBA 2K10 Draft Combine.

He is a part-owner and spokesperson for Giordano's Pizzeria, a famous pizza place in Chicago.

In 2008, Derrick signed a shoe deal with Adidas. He also had deals with companies like Wilson Sporting Goods, Skullcandy headphones, and Powerade. In 2012, he signed a very large contract extension with Adidas, worth $185 million over 14 years.

Images for kids

Rose with the Chicago Bulls in 2011
Rose playing at the University of Memphis
Derrick Rose during his rookie season
Rose led the Bulls to 62 wins, and the best record overall, during the 2010–11 NBA season.
Rose in 2011
Rose during a timeout in 2015
Rose defending Kyrie Irving in 2016
Rose with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017
Rose with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2018