Complete Derrick Rose Rookie Card Guide
There have been very few players to generate NBA-wide enthusiasm upon entry into the league like Derrick Rose. There have been many different types of point guards handling the rock over the decades in the NBA, but none played the game the way Rose did. His electric style and earth-shaking dunks were lightning in the bottle for four seasons before injuries robbed fans, collectors, the Chicago Bulls, and most importantly, Rose of what should have been a first-ballot entry into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Early Career
The “Windy City Assassin” grew up in Chicago, playing high school ball at Simeon Career Academy before matriculating to Memphis for college.
Playing under then head coach John Calipari, much was expected of the Tigers during the 2007-08 season earning a preseason No. 3 ranking. Rose and the team lived up to high expectations producing a 38-2 overall record, 16-0 in Conference USA.
The Tigers tore through the NCAA tournament, downing UCLA in the Final Four for a championship game berth. In an overtime thriller, the Rose-led Tigers fell 75-68 to the Kansas Jayhawks.
Welcome to the NBA
The Bulls had the top pick in the 2008 draft, selecting the jaw-dropping hometown favorite. Rose earned Rookie of the Year honors after producing 16.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. By Year 2, Rose was an All-Star.
Rose improved upon his sophomore season in the NBA raising his scoring average from 20.8 to 25.0 while lifting his rebounds per game from 3.8 to 4.1 and assists from 6.0 to 7.7. Earning his second All-Star selection and first NBA First Team honors, Rose was named league MVP in 2011.
In the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers, Rose tore the ACL in his left knee beginning a constantly reoccurring issue with injuries that would last the remaining 11 years of his professional career.
Rose had sparks of his old self, averaging 18 ppg with the New York Knicks in ’16-17 and with Minnesota in ’18-19. The last big season for Rose was during the 2019-20 schedule, posting 18.1 ppg with the Detroit Pistons through 50 games played.
After bouncing around between the Timberwolves, Pistons, and Knicks from 2016 to the 2022-23 season, Rose laced up the high tops for one more run in ’23-24, retiring with the Memphis Grizzlies.
In the Hobby
Rose’s supreme athleticism and highlight reel producing plays made him a beloved player to chase in the hobby – and that holds true today. Only two of Rose’s 27 rookie cards have an entry point mint below $10, while the 10 most valuable have price tags over $100.
The following breakdown is based off Rose’s base rookie cards, not including parallels and inserts, as listed by the Beckett Online Price Guide (OPG). The values shared are also per the OPG.
Derrick Rose’s Rookie Cards
Valued at $8 Mint, the two Rose RCs that are easier to add to the PC based on pricing:
Valued at $10 Mint, two more Rose RCs:
Valued at $12 Mint, five more Rose RCs:
Valued at $15 Mint, three more Rose RCs:
Valued at $20, two more Rose RCs:
We take a bigger jump in card values before we get to the $100 mark. There are just three in this value bracket (Topps Chrome – $50 Mint), Bowman Chrome ($60), and Hot Prospects ($80).
Collectors are making the transition to serial numbered cards, patches, and autographs, upping scarcity and values. Only one clocks in at $100 Mint raw.
Four cards value in the $200-plus range Mint raw:
Alone with a high-end Mint value at $250: 2008-09 SP Authentic Retail #130 Derrick Rose AU RC. With a JSY AU /299 RC coming up with a similar card front, it is a great time to show a card back.
Two SPx cards, both with a print run of 99, have Mint values at $400:
If you’ve been counting down the 27 RCs, we are down to the final two per value. At $600 mint: 2008-09 SP Authentic #130 Derrick Rose JSY AU /299 RC.
The most valuable on the market, with a Mint entry point starting at $1,000: 2008-09 Exquisite Collection #92 Derrick Rose JSY AU /99 RC (Gold parallel /25 pictured).
