Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh reacts to a call during the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016, in Dallas. AP
The Miami Heat had recently bowed down to the Toronto Raptors in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoff race, but according to reports, getting eliminated is the least of their worries.
The Florida-based organization dread that their superstar forward, Chris Bosh, might never be medically cleared to play again by team doctors, as per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
The Texas-native has missed every game after the All-Star break for the second straight year, after being diagnosed with a blood clot.
Last year, the clot travelled to Bosh’s lung, which left him hospitalized and in critical condition.
The embolism he sustained in his calf this season, meanwhile, was not as fatal as the previous one, but officials still refused to clear him for basketball related activities.
The report added that 11-time All-star even attempted to return during this year’s playoffs, which caused a friction between him and the Heat management.
Despite the controversy, the Heat and Bosh share a mutual interest for him to be able to return, but his uncertain medical condition is also affecting the team’s ability to plan for the future.
If Bosh will be forced into medical retirement, his salary would still come off the Heat’s payroll one year after the last game he played in.
He currently still has three years on his contract, worth roughly around $75 million.
LeBron James says he feels for Bosh
Meanwhile, Bosh’s friend and former teammate, LeBron James, knows how gutting it would be for Chris if he could no longer play, but said he’s also concerned about his ‘brother’s’ health.
“Not having day-to-day knowledge of the whole situation I can’t comment from what the association should do,” James was quoted in an interview with Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.”As a brother and a friend of his, to see that he’s going through what he’s going through – I’ve talked to him numerous times and there’s no way I can even say that I understand what he’s going through. Because I can’t. It’s just a tough situation for him going through that once again for another year.
The 4-time league MVP continued, “But I think his health and his family is the most important thing. Basketball is a huge part of our lives, and, obviously, he wants to be on the floor. But as a friend I want him to be as healthy as possible, and hopefully we can see him back out there next season.” Khristian Ibarrola