Derrick Rose, former MVP, announces his retirement from the NBA after 16 seasons

Derrick Rose, who was voted MVP at the peak of his career, is leaving for the NBA after 16 seasons.

The 35-year-old was selected first overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2008 NBA Draft and immediately made an impact on the franchise.

Rose was named Rookie of the Year in the 2008-09 season and, at 22, is still the youngest player in NBA history to be named MVP in the 2010-11 season. He also made the All-Star team in three of the first four years of his career.

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Derrick Rose (23), guard of the Memphis Grizzlies, during the team introduction before their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center. (Alonzo Adams-USA Today Sports)

Rose announced his retirement on social media and took out full-page ads in every city he played in.

“You believed in me through good times and bad and were my constant when everything else seemed uncertain,” Rose wrote in his letter to the players, which also announced his retirement.

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Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (1) receives the MVP trophy before the first game of the second round of the 2011 NBA playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at the United Center. (Mike DiNovo-USA Today Sports)

“You gave me a gift, our time together, that I will cherish for the rest of my life. You told me it was okay to say goodbye and assured me that you would always be a part of me, no matter where life takes me,” Rose wrote.

Rose was on his way to becoming one of the NBA's biggest superstars before he tore his ACL in Game 1 of the Bulls' first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers in 2012. Rose never again showed the same explosiveness at the basket and missed nearly two full seasons while recovering from the surgery.

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Memphis Grizzlies guard Derrick Rose (23) has the ball while Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) defends during the first half at FedExForum. (Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports)

After spending seven seasons with the Bulls, Rose played for five other franchises in his career, playing twice for the New York Knicks, then for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves, and spending his final season with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Rose averaged 17.4 points and 5.2 assists in 723 regular season games.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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