“I f**king broke down crying” – Derrick Rose was devastated when he received the news that he tore his ACL

As quickly as Derrick Rose rose in the NBA, going from the Chicago Bulls’ first pick in 2008 to becoming the youngest MVP in league history in 2011, his star fell even faster when he suffered a devastating knee injury in the 2012 playoffs.

Hoop fans will never forget this moment, as it changed the trajectory of Derrick’s career forever and led him on a path where he sometimes doubted he could come back.

During his appearance on the “Out The Mud” podcast, the 6’3″ guard pulled the curtain back on that moment, his recovery process, and his mindset throughout the ordeal that derailed his career.

Rose knew something had gone wrong
On April 28, 2012, the Bulls faced the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round and had the Game 1 win in the bag. They led by 12, 99-87, with only a minute to go. However, disaster suddenly struck as Rose landed awkwardly after jumping into the lane. During that play, “Pooh” immediately knew something had gone wrong.

“Of course, the pop — I knew that I tore my sh*t right away. Your nerves start to shake in your leg, and you can’t control it. Like, all my sh*t — I knew something really happened. Tried to walk — couldn’t walk,” Rose shared.

It didn’t take long for the team’s medical staff to confirm Rose’s worst fear. And when he received the ominous diagnosis, he couldn’t help but break down in tears.

“When they told me it was torn, I f**king broke down crying. My mom was there, and she’s trying to help me. After that, I got back to the crib, and for like a year—or even two—it was just hard, bro. Just trying to figure out your rhythm,” the former Memphis star said.

The road back

While getting his body back to form was demanding and taxing, Derrick said overcoming the mental hurdles was tougher. While surgery and physical therapy had already helped his body heal and rehabilitate, it was challenging to get his mind to believe he could still perform at the highest level.

“You go from that (physical rehab) to mentally having to deal with, like, ‘I’m never going to be the same.’ That sh*t is rough, bro. Like, ‘I’m never going to be the same.’ I swear, bro, you ask yourself, ‘Can I play through this pain?’ Because every day, it’s not going to be pain-free when you’re dealing with an injury,” Rose shared.

The three-time All-Star shared that facing off against other players in the league was already a tough challenge. However, an even greater battle was contending with his own past, as experts and fans continually measured him against the standard of his MVP years.

Rose never reached the apex of his MVP season again, but he continued to overcome doubts and criticism, finding success with different teams. He became a lethal off-the-bench scorer and playmaker for the Detroit Pistons before ending his career as a sage veteran who guided everyone in the locker room.