Few players get to choose when their career ends. Chris Bosh learned that the hard way after blood clots forced him to step away from basketball at age 31. Before his abrupt retirement, he built a Hall of Fame career, winning two championships with the Miami Heat alongside LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, earning 11 All-Star selections and securing induction in 2021.
During a recent charity 3×3 basketball event in Ladera Ranch, on behalf of USA Basketball as a coach, Bosh spoke with HoopsHype about his recent health scare, advice for Victor Wembanyama regarding blood clots, LeBron‘s decision to join the 76ers, Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s fit with the Heat, international competition and more.
What are your thoughts on being out here for this 3×3 tournament with the kids and charities?
Chris Bosh: I mean, first and foremost, helping the kids out. It’s always a great endeavor. I used to be one of those kids that needed a handout, needed a program to participate in.
So RX3, USA Basketball, they’re doing a great job. They’re doing a great job putting on this event, raising money for charity, and bringing awareness to the three-on-three game.
It’s a great game. Guys are coming out to compete, and I think the kids having stuff to do and watch and play ball and having the activities is a great thing.
When you were a kid, did you get a chance to go to any pro players’ youth camps?
CB: I wish. It would have been fantastic if more pro players or just more organizations had activities for kids like me back then.
But I’ll tell you one thing. If it was free or if it was a little bit of money you were able to pay, I was there. My parents were dropping me off. So, especially during the summertime, I always connected with other kids through camps and stuff like this. It was always a big, huge part of my life.
Nowadays, there are a lot more opportunities to get exposure, but it’s not cheap to play even as a kid. Trevor Ariza recently spoke on a podcast talking about how expensive youth basketball is getting now.
CB: I mean, that’s one of the points of struggle, I believe, for a lot of families. As people are getting more into it and more into sports, the prices are going up, unfortunately.
I’ve always been a big believer in access for everybody. So I hope as the sport grows, people will keep that in mind, that everybody can’t afford everything. I used to be one of those kids.
So they need to keep in mind the players, the parents who are really making sure or struggling to get their kid to where they are. Keep those people in mind.
What was your favorite moment when you played with Miami during those Big Three years?
CB: Winning those championships, baby. [Laughs] That’s what it’s all about. You know, of course, it’s always the bus rides, the camaraderie, the locker rooms, hanging out, stuff like that. But when you’re around a team for so long, preparation, going through so much with guys, it’s a really, really special time. So those championship runs, always in my heart.
Was there a particular moment that stuck out to you? Was there a meeting that happened when you guys were stuck in the mud and the switch turned on?
CB: Man, I mean, no one specific meeting. I mean, we had so many of them, it felt like. But my favorite times were probably having the dinners when it was just us, the team. Whether it was a celebration or trying to get through a struggle, we would always connect. We’d always have dinner and put our minds together to try to figure something out.
When you went from Toronto to Miami that first season, and then you get introduced to Heat culture… They measure your weight, watch what you eat, etcetera? Were you shocked? Did it take you some time to adapt?
CB: Yeah, it was a big change, but so is trying to win a championship. So is trying to be the best you can be. That’s why it’s always kind of funny. So many people talk about Heat culture, but they’ve never experienced it. It’s a business. You know, you come in, you’re expected to do certain things.
If you look at their track record over time, it’s one of the best in the league. So, just to be able to see them, how they run their business and do their thing, and then hearing everything and experiencing it for myself is a reason why they do the things that they do. So that sustained greatness is important.
What habit has stuck with you from that experience to your post-playing days?
CB: Man, I think professionalism and accountability. Those were two big, huge things. We always had to be uncomfortable talking about getting better sometimes. And that was the part where we really, really pushed everybody and each other. So, holding each other accountable, making sure we do what we need to do on and off the court to be successful. That’s what I’ve taken with me in my new life.
You’ve talked publicly about LeBron’s best fit being in Miami. What were your thoughts on LeBron choosing Philadelphia and not Miami?
CB: I mean, they have a good team. They have championship aspirations. You look on paper, they look pretty good.
For them, the most important thing is figuring out how they’re going to play, how they’re going to play together, their defensive schemes and offensive schemes.
But most importantly, the five that are out there on the court and then the team, how are they going to come together? How are they going to share the ball? How are they going to be solid as a unit moving forward? That’s going to be the hard part. And, hell, like any other team, being healthy, fighting through the ups and downs, that’s what it’s about.
Are you surprised a reunion in Miami didn’t happen?
CB: I’m surprised, but I’m not surprised. You know, that was just my best pick. I was like, hey, if I’m doing something, I’m going to go to Miami, if it was me.
But Philly was a pretty good choice, too. So a lot of people call it ring chasing. Everybody chases rings. If you didn’t think Kobe and Jordan were ring chasers too, you’re crazy. [Laughs] Everybody wants a ring. I’ll chase a ring right now. [Laughs].
Giannis is a Heat player now. As someone who won titles in that arena, what do you make of the fit?
CB: With Giannis? I mean, it’s classic Heat basketball. They have a person that they believe they can build around, him and Bam, a great nucleus to hopefully get them to the next level.
They’re right in their wheelhouse. I always truly do believe that they want to leverage their future for a guy that can do it right now. They have that guy.
And we’ll see what happens. I’m sure they’ve got a couple more tricks up their sleeve because they need to build out the team a little bit still. But if they get some outside shooting, get another playmaker or two, I think they could be a really strong team.
You had to reinvent your game as a big when you got to Miami, sacrificing touches, spacing the floor more. What’s one thing you’d tell Giannis now that he’s playing for Spo and Riley?
CB: Just play go out there and play the game. Of course, enjoy Miami. Be a leader in practice that they need you to be on the court and off the court. But just go out there and play basketball.
One thing that Spo allows you to do is to go play, so if you have the mindset to be a winner to go out and compete, he’s in the right place. And it’ll be ups and downs just like everything else but they’ll build around him. He’s the guy. Bam’s the guy. Attack the paint and kick for the three. [Laughs] Be Giannis, you know.
Since you retired, how do you feel USA Basketball has fared against their competition? Do you feel like the gap has closed?
CB: I mean, the gap is closing with international basketball, but we’re still the USA. We’re still the best, right? And I think it’s great that the other countries are catching up because we want competitive basketball.
I know France feels like they’ve got something going, and that’s a great thing. But over everything, I want basketball to be competitive. So I’m always going to root for the USA all the way to win it all.
But we want to see good basketball. We want to see good competition. And I will say between Serbia, between France, Canada, you know, programs are really, really starting to show their power, show what they’ve got in their talent, and it’s really exciting.
The other teams have a continuity that USA doesn’t have. Every summer they usually meet up and practice together, whereas with USA, every summer will have different players. Do you feel like USA might need to develop more continuity with their guys?
CB: Well, if you remember, that’s how we did it. That’s why the Redeem Team was put together back in 2008. The process started back in 2006.
So we developed that program. We’ve gone back to how it was before. We’re just sending the Navy SEALs, we just sent them in.
Now, I mean, we’ll see, but I would like to see them get back to the National Team vibes. We’ll see how it goes, though. But that is a good point. All the other countries are always playing together. So that is something that we have to play against.
The World Cup, for instance. A lot of the other teams are out there with the same guys, while we send in the B Team to compete there.
CB: Yeah, for sure. I mean, hopefully nobody beats us to put us back in a place of saying, we need to get that back going again. So, you know, we’ll see.
I would like to see more camaraderie with the team, which we don’t even know who’s on the team right now, right? But it’s a slow build, and hopefully they’ll get back matched up with each other, get that camaraderie building, and get on the court together.
Wembanyama had a blood clot that ended his season prematurely a year ago. What advice would you give him on hoping it becomes a one-time issue?
CB: Take your medicine. Make sure that he’s staying on top of his regimen to make sure that doesn’t happen again because it only takes one more time. It happened one more time for me, it happened twice, and I couldn’t play anymore.
So I guess with him, just making sure he does everything necessary to keep that blood as thin as possible and take care of that body off the court.
You’ve talked openly about your experience dealing with blood clots; how are you health-wise?
CB: Yeah, I had an episode in January. I almost dropped dead pretty much and came back to life. I’m not joking. Yeah. I had another pulmonary embolism. It was in January. Yeah, yeah, this past year. I was in the hospital for a week. But, take your medicine. So, I’m taking my medicine every day, taking care of myself every day, and watching it. So, I mean, no symptoms came either, you know, so.
Yeah, you got to deal with it for the rest of your life. I thought I was past it. I am not. So, you know, it’s just making sure I stay on top of my regimen.
I noticed you’re making a lot of videos reacting to NBA news or topics that are going on. Are you trying to get back into the media space?
CB: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just increasing brand awareness. Doing things on social media. Did some work with NBC and Amazon Prime and Peacock.
So, yeah, I’m putting out the calling card out there, man. Working on my chops even if I’m just sitting and chilling. So I think that’s the best part about social media now. You just turn that camera towards yourself and practice. So getting my message out there, getting the brand awareness so people start getting used to seeing this beautiful face, you know what I mean, and hearing my voice more.
