It's been more than two weeks since Derrick Rose last suited up for the Cavs, and now there's a chance the former NBA MVP may never play again.
Rose hasn't been in action since Nov. 7 while nursing an ailment that's caused him to miss Cleveland's last seven games, a stretch during which the three-time reigning Eastern Conference champions have gone 6-1, righting many of their early-season wrongs.
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Now, the 29-year-old could be contemplating retirement. Quoting a team source, ESPN's Dave McMenamin and Adrian Wojnarowski are reporting Rose has been away from the team for going on a week as he considers whether to forge through with his rehab and continue his career.
A three-time All-Star, Rose signed a one-year $2.1 million deal with the Cavs this offseason after spending last season with the Knicks. He was supposed to be a solid fill-in for All-NBA point guard Isaiah Thomas as he recovers from a lingering hip injury. However, Rose has missed 11 of the Cavs' 18 games with his own health problems.
As one Cavaliers source tells ESPN about Rose: "He's tired of being hurt and it's taking a toll on him mentally."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 24, 2017
The No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2008, Rose spent his first seven seasons in Chicago with his hometown Bulls, capturing Rookie of the Year honors in 2009 and being named league MVP in 2011.
After signing a five-year, $94 million extension with the Bulls, Rose tore the ACL in his left knee during the 2012 playoffs, forcing him to miss all of the 2012-13 campaign. He played just 10 games in 2013-14 before tearing the meniscus in right knee, forcing him to undergo season-ending surgery.
Rose, whose absence is excused unlike last season when he was fined for skipping a Knicks game due to a "family crisis," was last with the Cavs (11-7) on Monday. In seven games, he's averaging 14.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 26.9 minutes.