Being a fan of the Chicago Bulls in 1998 was very rough. Michael Jordan, deemed as the greatest ever to play the game, retired for a second time. Phil Jackson, Scottie, Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Steve Kerr, important figures that were part of the Bulls’ second three-peat, were either traded or let go. What followed was a decade of hardships and struggles for ChiTown to become relevant in the NBA again.

Those ten years were fortunately ended with the arrival of Chicago’s best hope to contend again since the days of Jordan. In 2008, the Bulls’ picked Derrick Rose from the University of Memphis with the number one pick. Right from the get-go, the young rookie would go on to lead a roster consisting of Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, and Ben Gordon, among others, to a 41-41 record and a playoff spot that season.

From that point on, Rose has spent 14 seasons in the NBA, played for several teams, and made a lasting impression on each of them along the way. The same can also be said on the impact he has left on the fans, most notably those who are into the card hobby. We take a look below why Derrick Rose’s cards have retained their value, and will probably continue to do so as he enters the latter stages of his NBA journey.

 

D-Rose's career has one of the best narratives in NBA history

Derrick Rose was a force to be reckoned with from the first year he entered the league. He would go on to average 16.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 3.9 rebounds during his first season, and lead the Bulls to a seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. Although Chicago would lose to the Boston Celtics in the first round, Rose would make his name known during that first season by winning the Rookie of the Year Award and being named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

In his third year, Rose would go on to take the NBA by storm when he led the Bulls to a league-best 62-20 record during the 2010-11 season. This impressive performance during the regular season led to Rose winning the Most Valuable Player award, making him the youngest player in history to be given the accolade. Although Chicago lost to the LeBron James-led Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, Rose’s promising future was all but set in stone.

Disaster struck the following postseason when Rose tore his ACL in a playoff game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Since then, Rose would struggle to recover his old form after suffering subsequent injuries to his knees. He was eventually traded to the New York Knicks in 2016 and signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers one year after as a free agent. Both of these stints saw Rose regress further, causing many to lose faith in the former MVP.

At this time, many considered Rose’s career in the NBA to be finished. He would be given another chance by the Minnesota Timberwolves as their Sixth Man out of the bench. With the guidance of his old coach, Tom Thibodeau, and a reinvention of his style of play, Rose salvaged his career and made his presence felt again. 

Shades of the old D-Rose were seen again during his time with Minnesota, the Detroit Pistons, and his current team, the New York Knicks. Rose’s current resurgence has ignited interest in him across the league and around the world. His journey from being at the top of the NBA, from his fall to near-obscurity, and return to relevance has drawn a lot of people to his cause.

As a result, Rose’s impressive career narrative has enshrined him in the hearts and minds of fans everywhere, especially those who are into the hobby. This same narrative is the primary reason why D-Rose’s cards will always be valuable.

 

The state of Derrick Rose cards in the market

Although Rose has been performing well as of late, playing for the Detroit Pistons has not been good to his card value. At the end of last year, his PSA 10 2008-09 Topps rookie card was selling for an average price of $205 on eBay. This month, another PSA 10-graded Rose Topps rookie card was sold for $549 while a gem mint refractor variant fetched $1,999.

Image 1 - 2008-09-Topps-Chrome-Derrick-Rose-Chicago-Bulls-RC-Rookie-PSA-10-GEM-MINT

As you can see from the numbers above, D-Rose’s value jumped up as the year progressed. Along with his narrative, Rose’s trade to the Knicks also played a part in boosting his stock. There is still a chance his value increases, especially if the Knicks make a good run in the postseason.

The verdict on Derrick Rose cards

As stated above, Rose’s short-term card value is tied directly to New York’s potential playoff run. If they do good, his stock goes up and vice versa. In any case, it’s best to buy D-Rose cards when they dip.

As for long-term value, keep in mind that Rose has a decent chance to enter the Hall of Fame sometime after he retires from the league. When this happens, his rookie cards will more than double in price. His avid fanbase also guarantees there will forever be a market for his cards, even when he moves on from the NBA.

Keep an eye on those price dips because that would be the best time to buy Derrick Rose cards. Once you’ve got one of his definitive rookie cards, keep it and see how it rises in the future.