Chris Bosh has spent most of his life being able to out-run, out-jump and out-shoot just about anyone. Now, entering his 13th year in the NBA, his future is in jeopardy, and it has nothing to do with those skills. Instead, it’s because he keeps developing blood clots. And it’s created a truly spectacular headache for his team and the NBA.
For the past two years, doctors have found blood clots that have caused Bosh to miss the second half of the season. Last week, he failed his physical with the Miami Heat due to further evidence of clotting. The medical danger to Bosh is twofold: If he’s cleared to play, there’s a chance that the exertion of a basketball game could drive a clot to his heart or brain, with awful consequences.
If he chooses to play on blood thinners, which decrease the chances of the former, he risks uncontrollable internal bleeding in the event of hard contact. For many, that would constitute too much risk.
Bosh, however, seems to see his medical issues as a challenge to take on, similar to rehabilitating an injury. To quote: “[the clotting] wasn’t a matter of if I’m going to play again, but when.” He’s gone further: He’s self-directed a documentary called “Rebuilt,” which is centered on his recovery. He’s also found a doctor who has given him the answer he wanted: If he takes blood thinners that work their way out of his system by game time, he might be able to play.
The Heat feels otherwise. The risk of one of their players — an NBA star, at that — potentially collapsing on the court is impossible to justify. As such, they won’t permit him to play, thus creating a stalemate for which there’s no end in sight.
Bosh won’t retire while he feels he can still play. The Heat can’t release him, practically speaking, because of salary cap ramifications. They certainly can’t trade him — teams aren’t exactly lining up to take part in the drama. It appears that the NBA is going to have to step in to mediate, but it’s unclear what the options are. Commissioner Adam Silver certainly can’t force the Heat to let Bosh play. He also can’t force Bosh into retirement. What he will do remains to be seen.
Bosh should retire. In his case, it’s about more than his wife and five children. He’s a renaissance man in every sense. He codes. He brews beer. He taught himself Spanish (and has been interviewed on Univision and ESPN Deportes). That said, he’s been Chris Bosh, basketball star, for so long that it’s not hard to understand why he doesn’t want to give it up. But all things considered, it’s just not worth it. Ball isn’t life, Bosh. Life is life.
Jack Siglin is a senior physiology and neurobiology major. He can be reached at jsiglindbk@gmail.com.
