Rose made his announcement in a social media post on Instagram. He also took out an ad in every local newspaper, including The Detroit News, in the six cities he played in during his 16-year career. The full-page ad – “Thank you, my first love” – ​​was a love message to the sport of basketball, highlighting his journey from his hometown of Chicago to a glittering career in the NBA.

“You showed me new places and cultures that a kid from Chicago could never have imagined,” Rose wrote. “You taught me that every loss is a lesson and every victory is a reason to be thankful… You gave me a gift, our time together, that I will cherish for the rest of my life. You told me it was OK to say goodbye and assured me that you would always be a part of me, no matter where life takes me.”

Rose began his career in 2008 as the Chicago Bulls’ No. 1 pick. After a brilliant high school and college career at Simeon Career Academy and the University of Memphis, he was one of the most promising talents of the 2000s.