May 3, 2011: Becomes youngest Most Valuable Player in NBA history in almost unanimous vote
December 21, 2011: Signs maximum contract extension through 2016–17 with Bulls
December 25, 2011: Opens lockout-shortened season with game-winning shot to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers
April 28, 2012: Tears anterior cruciate ligament in left knee with 1:20 remaining and Bulls leading by 12 points in Game 1 of playoffs against Philadelphia 76ers
May 12, 2012: Undergoes surgery at Rush University Medical Center, where surgeon Brian Cole estimates a return no sooner than 12 months later
November 22, 2013: Suffers torn meniscus in right knee in 10th game back following ACL surgery, misses rest of season after surgery on November 25, 2013
September 14, 2014: Leads Team USA with six assists in gold medal game win over Serbia in FIBA World Cup
February 23, 2015: Tears meniscus in right knee after 46 games
April 8, 2015: Returns with nine points in 19 minutes
April 18, 2015: Scores 23 points in first playoff game since ACL tear and averages 21.5 points in series win over Milwaukee Bucks
May 8, 2015: Scores 30 points, including game-winning three-pointer as Bulls take 2–1 lead over Cleveland in Eastern Conference semifinals; Cavs win next three games
September 29, 2015: Suffers orbital fracture in first practice of season
June 22, 2016: Traded to New York Knicks, along with Justin Holiday, for Jerian Grant, Jose Calderon, and Robin Lopez
January 9, 2017: Leaves team to return home for one day and misses game against New Orleans Pelicans
April 2, 2017: Tears meniscus in left knee and misses rest of season after averaging 18 points in 64 games
July 25, 2017: Signs with Cavaliers
November 24, 2017: Leaves team for personal reasons after playing in seven games
January 18, 2018: Scores nine points in 13 minutes in return to Cavaliers
February 8, 2018: Traded to Utah Jazz; waived February 10
March 8, 2018: Signs with Minnesota Timberwolves
July 4, 2018: Re-signs with Timberwolves
October 31, 2018: Scores career-high 50 points in win over Jazz
Photo Gallery
Little Pooh
Me and my mom
Me and my brother Allan
Broken arm, still hoopin’
Me and my friend Bubble
Simeon. I wanted to live up to the honor of wearing No. 25.
Taking the ball from Jon Scheyer in the Illinois state playoffs. He was a hooper. (AP Images)
After the shot to beat Peoria Richwoods for the state championship. That’s Randall Hampton next to me. (AP Images)
Coach Cal made it feel like I had a home at Memphis. (AP Images)
Layup against UCLA in the Final Four. (AP Images)
Simeon team, 2005
Fucking Mario Chalmers hitting a three-pointer to send the championship game to overtime. (Bob Donnan—USA TODAY Sports)
When people ask me about my biggest disappointment in basketball, I say it’s losing to Kansas in the championship game. (AP Images)
All of a sudden, I had all these NBA reporters around me and asking me questions. I’m an introvert; I wasn’t prepared for it at all. (AP Images)
All love after getting drafted by the Bulls. (AP Images)
Holding my Rookie of the Year award with Reggie, my mom, and Dwayne. (AP Images)
When I was younger, I used to practice dunks a lot. On Goran Dragic in 2010. (Mark J. Rebilas–USA TODAY Sports)
Jo, Luol, me, and Booz in 2010. I liked our team. (AP Images)
Someone asked what my expectations were for myself going into my third year. I said, “Why can’t I be the MVP of the league?” (Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports)
I didn’t know President Obama was a big Bulls fan until I met him in person. (Newscom/Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
I fixed the rims and the court at Murray Park, right around the corner from our place on Paulina. I try to help quietly. (AP Images)
Even if we had a better regular season, LeBron would stop us every time in the playoffs. (AP Images)
Yeah, the ACL, it was life changing. (AP Images)
Because I wasn’t someone who talked much, I think that made wearing the “I Can’t Breathe” T-shirt louder. (Newscom/Chris Sweda-Chicago Tribune)
A lot of people don’t understand the connection I have with Thibs. There’s this communication I have with Thibs that’s different. (AP Images)
By that last year in Chicago, we started losing and things were getting away. But I was still emotional when I heard about the trade to the Knicks. (AP Images)
Whenever I’m in China, I feel the love. (AP Images)
I really thought we were going to have a special team in New York. But when it came to the basketball, I knew right away that we were shit. (AP Images)
Having my kids has played a huge role in understanding where I am and where I will be. (Instagram @laylamaliburose)
A 50-point night and a blocked shot to win the game on Halloween in 2019. Like, out of all the bullshit I went through, all the adversity I went through, it was my way of showing myself that I still have it. (AP Images)
Copyright
Copyright © 2019 by Derrick Rose and Sam Smith
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher, Triumph Books LLC, 814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, Illinois 60610.
Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data available upon request
This book is available in quantity at special discounts for your group or organization. For further information, contact:
Triumph Books LLC
814 North Franklin Street
Chicago, Illinois 60610
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Printed in U.S.A.
ISBN: 978-1-62937-642-4
eISBN: 978-1-64125-286-7
Design by Patricia Frey
Photos courtesy of Derrick Rose unless otherwise indicated