All-star forward Chris Bosh, who has been dealing with blood clots the past two years, has not been medically cleared by Miami Heat doctors to play. The Heat released the following statement at approximately 11:30am Friday:
“The Miami HEAT and Chris Bosh, in consultation with team doctors and other physicians, have been working together for many months with the mutual goal of having Chris return to the court as soon as possible. Chris has now taken his pre-season physical. The Miami HEAT regret that it remains unable to clear Chris to return to basketball activities, and there is no timetable for his return.
We are not able to comment further in light of Article XXII, Section 3(e) of the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement, which precludes a team from releasing certain medical information without a player’s consent.”
Chris Bosh Fails Physical with Miami Heat
More Issues in Bloodwork
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the issue arose with Bosh’s bloodwork taken earlier this week. Bosh’s previous two seasons were curtailed just after the All-Star break because of blood clot episodes.
Bosh Was Looking Forward to Playing This Year
Chris Bosh has worked assiduously through the summer months to be ready for training camp. The Heat family was looking forward to having Bosh available for training camp, thus having him as a part of the 2016-17 team. Bosh himself claimed last week that he would be healthy enough to start the season; however, we now know that will no longer be the case.
However Bosh’s return was always contingent on attaining a clean bill of health through the gauntlet of tests he underwent.
This is a Major Setback For the Heat
Owner Mickey Arison tweeted on August 31, “Looking good CB @chrisbosh look forward to seeing in camp”. Arison even ended the tweet with a basketball emoji. The Heat were counting on Bosh as he is the last remaining member of the “Big Three”. The Heat are restricted by NBA rules from releasing more information, which prohibit teams from divulging player information regarding potential career ending or life threatening circumstances.
Dwyane Wade, now a member of the Chicago Bulls, recently quoted as saying to the AP, “To me, the biggest thing is Chris has five kids and a wife and a family that depends on him being there. To me, that’s always most important. I told him, ‘Make sure you focus on that first.'”
Many questions remain. Must Chris Bosh retire? Will the Heat release him? Will Bosh have receive chance to play elsewhere?
Main Photo
MIAMI, FL – MAY 14: Chris Bosh #1 of the Miami Heat looks on before a game against the Brooklyn Nets in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2014 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida on May 14, 2014. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Elkman/Sports Imagery/ Getty Images)
