Athlete Spotlight: Derrick Rose ACL/Meniscus Tears
Athlete Spotlight: Derrick Rose ACL/Meniscus Tears
Derrick Rose is arguably one of the biggest “what if’s” in NBA history. Throughout his early years with the Chicago Bulls, he showed immense potential to be a consistent NBA all-star. Rose sparked his career by winning Rookie of the Year in 2009, then going on to be the youngest player ever to win an MVP at just 22 years old. However, his trajectory was cut short from a devastating ACL tear, permanently derailing his career.
Early Career
Derrick Rose was drafted as the first overall pick in 2008 by his hometown Chicago Bulls, after one year at the University of Memphis. His rookie season is widely considered to be one of the best in league history, winning Rookie of the Year. Rose would then get named an All-Star for the next three seasons, leading to his peak in 2010-2011 where he won MVP. That season, Rose led the Bulls to the best record in the league going 62-10 and advanced to the Eastern conference finals, before eventually falling to the Miami Heat “Big Three” consisting of Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh.
Injury
The Bulls’ momentum carried into the 2011-2012 season, finishing tied for the best record in the league with the San Antonio Spurs at 50-16. But tragedy struck on April 28, 2012. In the opening round of the playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers, Rose toppled to the ground after a drive to the basket in the final minutes of the game. An MRI later confirmed that Rose had torn his ACL, causing him to miss the rest of the postseason and the entire 2012-2013 season while recovering.
His eventual return in the 2013-2014 would be short-lived, as only 10 games into the season he suffered a meniscus tear, once again missing the rest of the season due to injury. Rose would remain with the Bulls for two more seasons, including sitting out for several months in 2015 for surgery on his right meniscus.
Effects of Injury
The recurring injuries greatly hindered Rose’s explosiveness and stability, from which he found himself a journeyman, traded from team to team for the rest of his career. He was first traded to the New York Knicks in June 2016, where another meniscus tear led to his fourth knee surgery. Rose then played one season on both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Minnesota Timberwolves, carving a valuable role as a backup guard despite dealing with the effects of all his previous injuries.
In 2019, Rose signed with the Detroit Pistons and produced one of his most efficient seasons of his career, with a .490 field goal average and 14 out of 20 games scoring 20+ points, both career highs. In 2021, he returned to the Knicks under his former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, thriving in his role as a Sixth Man. Yet tragedy struck again; This time an ankle injury and subsequent infection sidelined him for the entire 2021-2022 season. Rose was later traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2023-2024 season.
Conclusion
In September of 2024, Derrick Rose officially announced his retirement from professional basketball. In addition to his Rookie of the Year and MVP awards, he received two gold medals with the US men’s national team at the FIBA World Cup in 2010 and 2014. The Bulls have since retired his iconic #1 jersey, cementing his legacy in his hometown. Though the injuries robbed him of the prime of his career, Rose’s resilience and determination serve as a testament to perseverance in the face of adversity.
Work Cited
McDonough, Michael, and Adam Augustyn. “Derrick Rose | Injury, Height, Draft, Biography, & Facts.” Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Derrick-Rose
“Derrick Rose ACL injury.” Team ACL, https://team-acl.com/derrick-rose-acl-injury/
“Derrick Rose Career Stats - NBA.” ESPN, https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3456/derrick-rose