Grizzlies' Derrick Rose Says He Considered NBA Retirement After Knicks Exit

Derrick Rose considered walking away from the NBA last offseason.

With his Memphis Grizzlies hitting the road to face his former team in the New York Knicks on Tuesday, the guard discussed his departure from the Big Apple after playing parts of three seasons in Madison Square Garden.

"Around that time I was still trying to figure out if I still wanted to play," Rose said when discussing the aftermath of the Knicks' decision to decline his contract option, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. "Just trying to figure out my route, if I wanted to stay or leave."

He ended up staying in the NBA and joining the Grizzlies on a two-year deal.

Rose said the Knicks told him "they were moving on" and not looking to re-sign him after declining the option, which wasn't particularly surprising considering he was not a part of the rotation and appeared in just 27 games last season.

The presence of Jalen Brunson, Immanuel Quickley and Miles McBride didn't leave much playing time for Rose, but he said there are no hard feelings toward New York head coach Tom Thibodeau.

"I haven't talked to Thibs since Jalen's wedding (July 29). But it's good," Rose said. "He sent me a bottle of champagne for my wedding. LIke a vintage bottle, too. So it's love. That relationship, it won't be strained. Even when they said they're going in a different direction, I can't be mad at Thibs for that."

Their relationship extends beyond their time in New York, as Thibodeau also coached Rose on the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Rose was the 2008-09 Rookie of the Year and 2010-11 league MVP during his time in the Windy City, although injuries sapped him of much of his explosiveness. He has been something of a journeyman since with stops with the Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons and Grizzlies.

The 35-year-old is no longer the dominant force he was when he was the franchise cornerstone in Chicago, but he is still playing for a Grizzlies team dealing with a number of significant injuries. He is averaging 8.6 points and 3.4 assists per game.

Despite revealing that he considered retirement this past offseason, Rose said he has embraced becoming a journeyman and will continue to help the Grizzlies attempt to turn things around this season.