The Miami Heat recently made it official. They would waive Chris Bosh and move on from the 11-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA Champion due to some medical issues. The blood clots Bosh has been dealing with have essentially ended his career at this point. He didn’t play one-minute last season and in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 campaigns, his season ended by the All-Star break. But before we officially close the book on Bosh in the NBA, he took the time to reflect on his time spent in South Beach.
He thanked Miami for sticking with him through so many moments in his life. From the disappointments and success in the NBA to his family becoming whole to his medical scares, Bosh went through it all.
Here’s some of the letter Bosh wrote on his site, ChrisBosh.com.
Dear Miami,
Wow, what a ride! I’ve been reflecting on my time in this great city and want to thank you for being a constant during a period of change in my life. I’ve experienced a few finals appearances, a couple of championships, several weddings (including my own), the birth of four kids, bonding with an entire community and a ton of ups and downs along the way.
It was scary leaving Toronto, a place where people really loved and supported me, and I wasn’t sure if that great feeling would follow me. When I arrived in Miami, I was just hoping for glory and mention amongst the immortals of basketball. What I got was so much more.
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My wife and kids have been so strong for me in moments when I was not. My wife has picked me up off the ground more times than you know and I am so thankful to have such a great support system. She’s a lot like you, Miami—nice and mellow with that special touch of Latin passion and fire. Sometimes I wonder what I did to deserve a woman who loves me unconditionally and has my back through everything.
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Thanks for coming to the games and cheering us on to win. Making you proud was a priority every time we stepped out on the court. It felt so good to share that championship feeling with you. While we grabbed the trophy, you grabbed your pots and pans and celebrated like no one else in the world can. Warm home games are a luxury in the league. Being able to stay with you and actually win a couple games made everything that much better.
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I was in there for six days and had surgery on my left lung. I sat in a room that whole time with tubes sticking out of my ribs and started to pity myself. But then I realized there are so many people dealing with things much worse, and once again, I was humbled. To all those who think it’s not going to get better and are feeling those walls close in on you, keep fighting! Envision yourself walking out of that place on your own two feet and work every day to achieve that goal. My short six-day hospital stint felt like a lifetime, so I can’t begin to imagine the strength of those who are there for much longer.
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We went through life together, Miami. You showed me how to stay strong and push through in the toughest moments. And although I didn’t like it at the time, it made all the difference in the long run. It made me a better man, the person I am today. Thank you.
Thank you to everyone—here in Miami, across the nation and around the world—who has been a part of #TeamBosh. I hope you will continue to follow me on my journey, wherever that leads me.
