In the realm of basketball, few names are as revered and synonymous with both brilliance and resilience as Derrick Rose. And when he announced his retirement from the NBA this week, the basketball universe—including Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic—took a moment to pay homage to a player whose highs were as high as his lows were low.
Doncic, being the modern-day maestro of Instagram tributes, posted a throwback photo of himself and Rose after a 2018 matchup. In classic Luka style, he kept it short and sweet, throwing in a rose emoji as a nod to the legend himself. I mean, when you’re Luka, you don’t need a novel to convey your emotions, right?
Rose, the youngest MVP in NBA history, played a whopping 16 seasons—a lifetime by NBA standards. His farewell to the game was both poetic and full of class, as he spread love to all six cities that had the privilege of witnessing his greatness. Chicago, New York, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Detroit, and Memphis—each got a farewell ad in their local papers. (And let’s be real, that’s way more effort than most people put into their LinkedIn farewells.)
“Thank You, My First Love,” Rose wrote in his parting words to basketball. “You told me it’s okay to say goodbye.” Well, Derrick, we’re not sure we are ready to say goodbye to you.
And then, just when you thought Luka was done with his heartfelt praise for Rose, he came through earlier this month saying that Derrick Rose had the best high school mixtape of all time. Now, we know Doncic admitted he didn’t watch many mixtapes growing up (because, you know, not everyone was glued to YouTube in Slovenia), but when Luka speaks, we listen.
Let’s not forget how Rose’s injuries—and specifically that notorious ACL tear during the 2012 playoffs—taught us all a valuable lesson: resilience is not about staying undefeated; it’s about getting back up, again and again. (Though most of us are happy just getting up from our couches.) Rose’s legacy is equal parts talent and toughness, an undeniable force when healthy, but perhaps an even bigger inspiration when not.
Oh, and speaking of legacies—let’s talk about the impact Rose had on the money side of the NBA. If you’ve heard of the “Derrick Rose Rule,” you know it basically paved the way for young superstars to get paid big. The rule allows players like Doncic to sign supermax deals if they rack up enough accolades while still on their rookie contracts.
Rose’s accolades? Well, he had his MVP, three All-Star appearances, and Rookie of the Year under his belt in his first few seasons. Thanks to his pioneering rise, Luka is now in line for a massive payday next offseason. We’re talking upwards of $360 million. Yes, you read that right—$360 million. (If you need a moment to digest that, we’ll wait.)
Doncic, with his five straight All-NBA team selections, has basically been cashing in Rose’s legacy like a golden ticket. So, in a weird, full-circle moment, Derrick Rose, who once ruled the court, may now be ruling Luka’s future bank account. Talk about an assist!
So while we say goodbye to Rose, we’re also prepping for the inevitable “thank you” note Luka will send Rose when he cashes in that supermax contract. Let’s just hope it’s not a rose emoji this time.
Forever Yours, Derrick Rose—and Luka’s Future Bank Account.
