1:03pm: ESPN has now posted a lengthier video of today’s First Take discussion with Bosh, which includes the former Heat and Raptors star addressing concerns about his health.
“Medicine is like law, I’ve come to find out,” Bosh said. “It’s a very gray area. Some people say yes, some people say no. Usually it’s about what the majority agrees to, and sometimes it’ll take somebody to have some revolutionary plan or something like that. I’m not going to be in a position where I’m risking my life, so if I ever get back on the court like that and people are worried, it’s not going to be a life-risking situation.”
Asked later in the discussion whether he hopes to make a comeback in 2018/19, Bosh said he hasn’t closed the door on returning this season. He also identified the Warriors, Rockets, and Raptors as teams that would interest him, and didn’t rule out the Cavaliers either.
11:57am: It has now been more than two years since Chris Bosh last played an NBA game, but the 11-time All-Star still hasn’t given up on the idea of resuming his playing career. Appearing on First Take (video link), Bosh told ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith today that he’s still making an effort to return to the NBA.
“I’ve been in the gym. I can still play basketball,” Bosh said. “No, I’m not done yet.”
Joking that he can’t call it a career when he sees how many current players are getting by shooting three-pointers and not playing defense, Bosh repeated a sentiment that he has expressed several times since his medical retirement. As recently as November, the former Heat star said he was keeping his options open as a player.
Although Bosh is still physically able to play basketball, concerns about his history of blood clots have made him medically ineligible to return to an NBA team. Doctors and teams have been unwilling to risk those blood clotting issues resurfacing.
Bosh last appeared in the NBA in 2015/16 for the Heat, averaging 19.1 PPG and 7.4 RPG in 53 games and earning an All-Star nod. He played his last game on February 9, 2016.
If he gets passed to play… what are we thinking? Cavs?
The only thing I am thinking is I don’t want to see him die on the court. I hope they never clear him. We don’t need another Reggie Lewis or Hank Gathers. He had a helluva career, but his body is telling him to stop and enjoy life.
Oh you beat me to it, Hi Flew
My question is what are the repercussions of these blood clots? Instant death or a long stay in the hospital?
I am thinking the Sixers could use him, but I don’t want to see Bosch suffer serious injury or what happened to Gathers or Lewis
Who knows, not his doctor… I’m just speculating on “IF” he gets cleared. I mean if he does, that should indicate he isn’t likely to die on the court. This is twitter, snapchat, 24/7 news cycle ERA. NBA won’t let him back in if there’s even a 1% chance he drops dead from blood clots on the court.
Well whatever the case is, Bosh sounds like he is being picky about the team he is willing to sign with
Sixers could use a stretch 4, but he is unlikely to play any defense or be a run-n-gun type player at this point, which is what they need from the 4.
Would be nice to see the Dinosaur finish his career with fellow dinosaurs (Raptors), but I think it’s time for Bosh to do an Elsa….
LET IT GO
I’m not a doctor, but I can tell you what my hematologist (blood doctor) told me when I was put on Xarelto for the very same issue. Any blood thinner user is at a higher risk of serious internal bleeding because our blood is thinner than normal and flows more quickly without clotting for a longer period of time than a person who’s not using one of these drugs. He told me that if I suffer any type of serious blow to the head or body that I should go to the nearest ER to make sure that I have no sign of internal bleeding. So it seems to me that being out on the court is a pretty substantial risk unless he goes off whichever drug he’s on. He used to be featured on some Xarelto commercials, so I’m assuming that’s what he’s using. If he would somehow get cleared to go off of it he could probably play, but then he’s at risk for more clots, and believe me, it’s no fun when it happens. I was in the hospital for a day and a half until they could get them small enough to break up. And my doc told me I’m gonna be on it for the rest of my life most likely. Sorry for the long post, but I’ve never seen anyone on here or really anywhere explain this. Hope this helps!
Thanks for the info man! Best of luck to you and Chris Bosh.
Thanks for the insight. I thibk his plan is to time the thinners so there aren’t in his sytem when he is on the court but he still regularly takes them to fight it (apparently some pro hockey players did it). No matter what best of luck to him and I hope the both of you live long full lives
First of all Grant, thanks for your good wishes for the both of us, much appreciated! I don’t think there’d be any good way to time things like you suggested since the medicine has to be taken on a regular basis. I hadn’t heard about the hockey players, but I’ll look it up.He’s pretty young, so there could possibly be a trial period where he goes off of them for good to see what happens, but I don’t think I would be willing to try that. The onset of the blood clots hitting your lungs is pretty darn painful and dangerous. I guess we’ll see what happens, I wish him luck!