Derrick Rose's confusing, complicated NBA path

Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill looks back on the former MVP and Rookie of the Year's career as the point guard retired after 15 seasons in the NBA.

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Video transcript

Derrick Rose may never make it into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

He might be the only MVP not to receive this award.

His jersey may not be immediately retired by the Chicago Bulls, the franchise where he was MVP in 2011.

But we will remember all the feelings.

We will remember the athleticism.

We will remember the pieces.

We will remember the boldness he had when he told us, “Why not me?”

Why can't I win MVP?

And he went out and did it and he had the audacity to go up against Lebron and Dwayne and Chris Bosh and the entire Miami Heat team and almost do it alone.

Of course, there are so many confusing things about Derrick Rose's demeanor that he was bitten by a snake because of his knee injuries, which prevented his place in the Hall of Fame.

Six teams he played for.

When he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, when he was part of LeBron James' team, he almost retired rather than play against him.

And then there was the 50-point game against the Minnesota Timberwolves where he lay on the floor crying.

After that, of course, there were some ugly things, some things that were confusing, not just him refusing to play, so to speak, because his body wasn't ready, but also the rape allegations that made many change their minds about someone that they had. The thought was really healing.

It didn't completely tarnish his image, but he changed his game when his body failed him.

He has developed into a low-to-the-ground, mid-range shooter, a veteran player that a lot of young players can actually look up to and rely on, like John Morant did in Memphis. John Morant is the embodiment of it all.

Derrick Rose should have been if his career had been at full health.

In fact, one could argue that Derrick Rose's 2011 MVP is more valid than Russell Westbrook's 2017 MVP, in which he averaged a triple double.

You can always tell that Derrick Rose is changing in his career. The way he was able to transform into a different player was his greatest achievement, even beyond the MVP.

And the fact that he was able to quietly retire and did so with six full-page ads in the franchises he played for speaks to his basketball character and that he will be remembered fondly as time goes on.

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