As Derrick Rose disappeared for one game night without communicating to his team, rumors swirled around what may be the issue. One such rumor speculated that the Knicks point guard is considering retirement.
After rejoining the Knicks, Rose made it clear that that was not the case.
Asked Derrick Rose if he had thought about retiring during his time away from the Knicks: "Hell no."
— Mike Vorkunov (@Mike_Vorkunov) January 11, 2017
This was always the likely situation. Rose is having a slightly improved season and has so far been healthy. We obviously don’t know his entire situation and how his mental state is, but from the outside looking in, retirement doesn’t seem likely.
Of course, it’s worth mentioning that he probably wouldn’t admit to considering retirement. It would put even more uncertainty around his team if teammates thought he wasn’t committed to basketball. Furthermore, if Rose is gauging his market in free agency (he reportedly wants a max contract) before making a decision on his career, it wouldn’t make sense to play his hand.
Regardless, Rose’s quick answer is worth noting and something to keep an eye on moving forward. Hopefully Derrick Rose is in the right state of mind.
