NBA: Derrick Rose on the verge of retirement?
Derrick Rose is after a championship ring. Or is he just trying to save his career in the NBA? Rose, 29, is a former NBA Rookie of the Year, MVP and three-time All-Star. But his career took a sudden change when he tore his ACL and did not play at all in the 2012-13 season. Injuries have plagued him ever since.
Rose, who now has an injured ankle, is aiming to get a ring with Cleveland Cavaliers, which would also save his career in a way. Plus, there is no doubt that he doesn't want to be on the list of former MVP winners who don't have a championship ring.
For this, Derrick Rose took a pay cut of over $19 million. He was signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers for just $2.1 million for one year. Meanwhile, in his lone season playing for the New York Knicks, he made $21.3 million.
He had a better earning opportunity of earning money with the Los Angeles Lakers, but he had a better chances to win playing for the Cavaliers, the Eastern Conference powerhouse who have made it to the last three NBA Finals.
There are also rumours that Rose was approached by LeBron James to join the Cavaliers and that James was the mediator between Rose and the team. Despite signing with the team, Rose has not played a game since 7 November 2017.
That was more than a month ago, and Rose has now missed 20 of the team's 27 games this season, including each of the last 16, as a result of a sprained ankle he originally suffered on 20 October 2017.
The team announced on Monday that the 29-year-old would resume the treatment and rehabilitation process for his injury.
He came back to join the team last week. On a T.V. report, the former MVP apologized to his teammates before the game and pledged to support the team during his rehabilitation process.
ESPN reported last month that Rose was tired of being injured and it was uncertain if he would return to the team or perhaps retire. But he is back and will hopefully be seen on the court soon with his teammates.