For the second year in a row, Chris Bosh‘s season ended abruptly this spring because of potentially life-threatening blood clots. This time around, however, the decision to keep him from returning for the Heat’s playoff run was a rather contentious one.
Bosh and his camp were apparently exploring certain options that might allow him back on the court, but the Heat organization balked at every turn. The Players’ Union eventually got involved and determined that it was ultimately in everyone’s best interests for Bosh to remain sidelined indefinitely.
Now, more details have emerged about just exactly what the controversy was about. According to a new report from the Miami Herald, Bosh floated the idea of playing while taking blood thinners.
Someone with knowledge of the situation said blood tests indicated the medication was out of Bosh’s system after 8 to 12 hours, which would significantly lessen the risk for Bosh playing. But the Heat and team doctors rejected that idea.
None of the doctors involved in Bosh’s case is commenting, but Robert Myerburg — an expert on treatment of athletes and a cardiologist at U-Health – said even though some of the newer blood thinners can be out of a patient’s system within 12 hours, “I would not use that strategy [that the Bosh camp explored]. There’s too much at risk.
Given the stakes, it would appear the Heat and the Players’ Union made a wise decision to prevent Bosh’s return. One former player has gone so far as to urge Bosh to retire from basketball altogether for the sake of his health and his family, but at this point, it appears as if the Heat are still anticipating his return next season.