Two-time NBA champion Chris Bosh turned 40 this year on March 24. To commemorate the Hall of Famer’s birthday, BallisLife decided to bring back a video of his former teammate, LeBron James, to honor his legacy and contributions to the Miami Heat franchise.
LeBron James continued to credit Chris Bosh for the two NBA championships he won with the Miami Heat.
Although the Heat had an intimidating ‘Big Three’, with Dwyane Wade along with James and Bosh, many of the players on the championship-winning Heat roster bowed to the 6’11 forward.
“Congratulations to my man, C-Bosh. CB, I mean, listen, I don’t win my championships in Miami without him, without you. You know what it meant to that team. All those years he was there in Miami and when I was there for my four years, even a couple years later when I left. Just a true definition of what a professional is. And it was never about him, it was always about the team…CB forever.”
After LeBron James was on board to join the Miami Heat team with Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh could be touted as the missing piece of the puzzle. Bosh was a low post expert and a takedown threat from the top of the key during his time in Toronto.
bosh averaged 24.0 points in his final year with the Raptors, according to Statmuse. But the things he did to put the team first don’t show up in his stats. CB was a talented scorer with his basketball IQ and high arc jump shot.
However, to accommodate LBJ and DWade on the court, the All-Star forward moved into a smaller role on the team beginning in his first year with the Heat. His scoring averages and his offense saw a huge drop, but his efforts on the defensive side of the floor saw an exponential increase.
Bosh also developed a consistent three-point shot after arriving in Miami, just so he could space the floor for LBJ and The Flash. So when James mentioned what a true professional Bosh was, he may have been implying that CB was one of those stars who was capable of putting his team before his ego.
What made Chris Bosh so special?
After 13 seasons in the league, Chris Bosh had to retire early due to health issues. Bosh had to deal with blood clots in his body that prevented him from being the player he was on an NBA court.
It truly was a tragedy how Chris Bosh’s career ended. However, having the respect and recognition of his former teammates for his contributions to the team may have been a positive for Bosh.
Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem recently talked about Chris Bosh and his value to the team in a podcast. Making an appearance with former Heat sharpshooter Mike Miller, the two presented Bosh with flowers.
Haslem emphasized the fact that Chris Bosh was the most important player on his roster. He continued to differentiate between the best and the most important player and placed Bosh in the latter.
Udonis Haslem mentioned how LeBron James and Dwyane Wade could fill each other’s roles if one of them were out. However, the Heat had no replacement for Chris Bosh on their roster and that’s what made him so valuable. Former Miami Heat point guard Norris Cole had the same analogy about Chris Bosh as UD. And he may have supported LBJ when he said the Heat wouldn’t have won those two championships without him on the team.
Chris Bosh may have retired from the league, but his legacy lives on in the rafters of two NBA franchises. Our thoughts and wishes are with one of the greatest power forwards and one-third of the scariest big three in recent NBA history. Happy birthday Chris Bosh.
