The Miami Heat are honoring one of the best to ever wear their uniform on Tuesday night. Chris Bosh, who suited up for the squad from 2010-16, will have his jersey retired by the organization when Miami takes on the Orlando Magic. It’s somewhat bittersweet, because Bosh is only 35 and saw his NBA career end before he wanted due to medical issues, but it’s a deserved honor for one of the greatest players in franchise history.
Bosh joined the Heat to form the Big Three with Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. The former still suits up for the franchise before he retires at the end of the season, meaning he’ll be in attendance for the ceremony. The latter, however, is in Los Angeles on Tuesday night for his Lakers’ game against the Washington Wizards.
Still, James made it a point to celebrate Bosh on social media before his big evening, tweeting out his appreciation for the future Hall of Fame big man.
https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1110668365847130112
The NBA also posted a video of James addressing Bosh from L.A.
CB Forever! @KingJames to @chrisbosh! #ThankYouChr1s pic.twitter.com/9OA9mf23go
— NBA (@NBA) March 26, 2019
“I don’t win my championships in Miami without him, without you,” James said. “What he meant to that team, all those years he was down there in Miami, either when I was there my four years or even the couple years I was gone, he’s just a true definition of what a professional was all about. It was never about him, it was always about the team.”
Bosh and James were part of the best stretch in franchise history, making four straight NBA Finals and lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2012 and 2013. It cannot be stressed how big of a shame it is that Bosh had to leave basketball because his body betrayed him and problems with blood clots caused his career to come to a premature end, but it’s great that he’s getting this honor from one of his old squads.
