During an appearance on NBA TV as a panel for Game 3 of the Toronto Raptors-Milwaukee series, Bosh also offered some insights on his transition as a full-time husband and father. “After a while, after a couple of years, I didn’t want to put myself out there and have that letdown again,” Bosh said. “I don’t want to be mad at the game. I don’t want to resent the game. Let me just walk away now causeI haven’t told any doctors.” “I got three boys and my twins were just born. And so as they were getting older, you know, you kinda see how much I realize how much I was going. I remember the first days being home it was so loud in the house. I had to get used to it.”
Storyline: Chris Bosh Retirement
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Wearing a Heat championship ring on both hands, Bosh watched a giant banner bearing his name and No. 1 raised to the rafters of AmericanAirlines Arena on Tuesday night — then delivered an emotional address to the crowd, part of it even in Spanish as a show of respect to the Latin culture of Miami. “My name, my family name up here, that’s something I used to get laughed at for dreaming of,” Bosh said. “So never let anyone tell you that you can’t accomplish your dream. Those four letters on the back of that jersey are my wife’s name, my kids’ name, my father’s name, my grandfather’s name. We’re not just carrying on for another generation. But now, Daddy Jack, we’re up there forever.”
For a time, he and the Heat were estranged. Bosh wanted to keep playing. The Heat didn’t feel his health issues would allow that. Eventually, the sides reached an understanding and then they finally began talking again. Now he’s back in the Heat family, forever. “I feel like I can officially, officially, officially move on,” Bosh said. “It all happened really fast, but we’re here. I’m so happy. And we get to move on into the next life together.”
Tim Reynolds: Bosh, on the thousands of notes he got from Heat fans after the first clot in 2015: “I read those letters. Those letters pushed me to get back on this court. Those letters inspired me to get back up and walk across the room when I didn’t think I had the energy to do it.”
Tim Reynolds: Bosh calls Game 6 the biggest rebound in NBA history. “I feel great. I’m happy. I’m healthy. And I’m ready to explore life outside of basketball.” Says he’s addicted to gold trophies: Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, Tonys. “But nothing will compare to a night like tonight,” he says.
The moment that led to Tuesday’s upcoming retirement of Chris Bosh’s No. 1 Miami Heat jersey came in the form of an epiphany. “You can’t live two lives,” Bosh says with the clarity that had been lacking after he was initially diagnosed with a second round of blood clots in February 2016, the moment his All-Star NBA career was put on hold for a second and final time.
Heat president Pat Riley and owner Micky Arison refused to acquiesce to a risk-accepted return. “It was tough, man. It was stressful,” Bosh says. “And nobody wanted it to be like that. And it’s business. I understood the whole time of where they were coming from and how they felt, but I want to make sure that people understood how I felt, as well. Sometimes that requires confrontation or involves confrontation. It was never confrontational. It was never anything detrimental to our relationship. We always kept it business. We all pretty much disagreed.”
“Micky and Pat — and this is one thing I have to get straight with people all the time — we never not talked. We communicated through this whole ordeal,” Bosh says. “And my message was always the same, ‘I want to play the game. I want to explore more options to be able to play.’ “
Chris Bosh is making a lot of music these days. He drinks beer and thinks about making more beer. He sketches. He paints. He plays with his kids. He has even learned how to use a wrench. He is also happy and healthy. And finally, he’s made peace with the devastating way that blood clots ended his NBA career without warning and when he was still in his prime.
His career is obviously worthy of celebrating. Bosh just hasn’t been in the mood to celebrate, until now. “It’s very awesome,” Bosh said. “I thought I had more time, but in the time I gave it was still worthy enough to have the organization and the great Pat Riley consider this. Pretty cool.”
Bosh got the remaining $52 million on his $118 million contract. In the financial sense, he was made whole. But he never learned why the clots kept happening. And a year ago, at the All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, Bosh’s wife Adrienne had enough — she pulled her husband aside, told him to end his self-described “pity party” and start enjoying being around the game and his friends again. “I feel great now,” Bosh said. “Things are great. Things are really, really good.”
The 11-time NBA All-Star has read the reports, too, but has officially put them to bed. He told Simmons that he will officially retire from the league at the retirement ceremony on March 26 (via The Ringer): “That part of my life is over. That has been a tough thing to deal with but I’m good, which has taken a long time [for me to accept] … I could have kept playing. But man, that time has passed. I’ve made the decision not to pursue it anymore.”
As part of that settlement, which still has Bosh earning $26.8 million this season (it does not count toward Miami’s cap and it is mostly covered by insurance), he is not allowed to return to play for the Heat at any point. But it appears he has settled into life after basketball, although he hasn’t officially announced the end of his playing career. “Chris was going through a lot,” Heat guard Dwyane Wade said of his former teammate and close friend. “He was somebody who was one of the best players in the world, and he had a diagnosis that comes that no one is familiar with, really. It’s just a tough situation. You got a player who was 32 at the time, something like that, and the way the game is going, can play for a long time. It’s just unfortunate.
Chris Bosh: Unless I’m competing at something, I don’t worry about it, trying to fill the void or match that feeling I had. But it is tough. And it is very hard. That’s why I make it a point to try not to pay attention to it or to try and fill the void. Because you can’t. It’s impossible and it won’t happen. The NBA is the best league in the world. It’s no way you’re going to be able to fill the void that the energy of performing before 20,000 people every night gives you. That’s just impossible.
Chris Bosh: I just try and move on from that and let it be a moment in time and leave it alone. I don’t look for that to fulfill me and I’m moving on to different things. Now that’s … if I do play again, I’m not going to say hey, ‘I’m this player that I was.’ I’m going to be a totally different player in a totally different situation and bring all those experiences with me. But looking to fill voids, it’s one of those bottomless pits, man. It’s not a ghost I’m interested in chasing.
Bosh’s NBA career came to a halt after his second blood clot diagnosis in 2016. The first blood clot, which traveled to his lung, was discovered in 2015. He hasn’t played a game since just before the All-Star break in 2016. He won two championships with the Heat, was named to 11 All-Star teams and is an Olympic gold medalist. While he told USA TODAY Sports that he is not retired and interested in playing again, it is difficult to envision a team doctor clearing him for an NBA return.
Chris Bosh will make a final determination on his career by the All-Star break, and he’s open to playing for any team willing to take the gamble – including the Knicks. Visiting MSG on Monday for the Knicks’ preseason game against the Wizards, Bosh told the Daily News he remains focused on a comeback from the blood clots that forced him to retire prematurely.
Still, it’s “complicated,” as Bosh noted. Over a year ago, his clotting issues were ruled by the NBA and the player’s union as career-ending. He was released by the Heat, which are holding his medical records. The fear with blood clots is that contact could result in severe internal bleeding. “It’s up to the team doctors from that team. And then we go from there,” said Bosh, who hasn’t played since the 2015-16 season.
David Fizdale was Bosh’s assistant coach in Miami, helping transform the 7-footer from a back-to-the basket force to a center who could shoot 3’s and spread the floor. The result was two championships with the Heat and four NBA Finals. “He helped me so much as far as dissecting offenses,” Bosh told the News. “Film work. And just mentally preparing for every night challenge. We felt a bond just trying to figure out how I can be effective in a free-flowing offense we had. And sometimes it was just having a beer and talking and leaving all the offcourt stuff to the side.”
You called all these GMs, I’m sure you called the league, the Players Association—I’ve been told there’s almost no hope [for Chris Bosh to continue his playing career]. Jackie MacMullan: I’ve been told there’s no hope, and it’s because the situation is too dangerous, too scary. […] From what I’ve been told, and of course, the records are sealed because of HIPAA laws and because all of his medical records from the Heat have not been seen by other NBA teams, at least that I’m aware of, I should say that, because perhaps someone asked and the Heat obliged, I’m not sure. I didn’t get that sense but I suppose it’s possible. But we don’t really know what else is involved with this. And I get the sense, from talking to GMs around the league, that there’s other things in play here.
Chris Bosh: Don't write me off
Although Chris Bosh has not played in an NBA game since Feb. 9, 2016 because of blood clotting issues, he’s not ready to close the door on his NBA playing career just yet. “That’s still there in front of me,” Bosh said on The Full 48 podcast hosted by Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck. “The window is still open. Once I close the doors, it’s closed. I don’t open it back up. That’s kind of me as a human being. That’s just one of the things about me. … But yeah, for me, I don’t close anything until I’m officially done. So until that day, I will definitely let everybody know when that day comes, if it comes soon. “I still, of course, work out and everything. I’m still doing work on the court. That’s very important to me. I’m still keeping my options open for the future. I know a lot of people don’t know that, but don’t write me off just yet.”
“That’s a fair question,” Bosh said said on The Full 48 podcast. “I would definitely understand and I do understand when my friends ask me or people ask me the same thing. But I think it’s something about the body of work. It’s about what you do and the impression that you leave, the inspiration that you leave with people. And you know, I’ve been playing basketball my whole life. So for people to understand, whatever it is you love doing, just stop doing it today and never do it again and then use that same philosophy. And they’ll probably find it’s not as easy as you would think.”
Although Chris Bosh has not played in an NBA game since Feb. 9, 2016 because of blood clotting issues, he’s not ready to close the door on his NBA playing career just yet. “That’s still there in front of me,” Bosh said on The Full 48 podcast hosted by Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck. “The window is still open. Once I close the doors, it’s closed. I don’t open it back up. That’s kind of me as a human being. That’s just one of the things about me. … But yeah, for me, I don’t close anything until I’m officially done. So until that day, I will definitely let everybody know when that day comes, if it comes soon. I still, of course, work out and everything. I’m still doing work on the court. That’s very important to me. I’m still keeping my options open for the future. I know a lot of people don’t know that, but don’t write me off just yet.”
Chris Bosh on what’s next: “Probably not coaching. It’s always very interesting. I’m always going to be around the game of basketball. I plan to keep my options open as a player moving forward, but that’s not coaching. Maybe front office work, working with teams and spreading the game, maybe teaching the game to young people, that’s something that’s a very big passion.”
Luke Walton said Chris Bosh talked to a few Lakers players today when he visited practice as a “spectator (and) encourager.” Bosh sat next to GM Rob Pelinka, who represented Bosh prior to Bosh’s retirement and before Pelinka joined the Lakers.
He has walked the red carpet at Nickelodeon’s Kid’s Choice Awards and now former Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh is moving up to the NBA’s Players Voice Awards. The National Basketball Players Association announced Thursday that Bosh will host Friday’s social-media presentation of awards voted upon by NBA players.
The Players Voice Awards are voted on solely by NBA players and feature many unique categories — Best Dressed, Hardest to Guard, Player You Secretly Wish Was on Your Team, Clutch Performer and Best Social Media Follow — in addition to MVP, Best Rookie, Best Defender and many others.
What’s next for Chris Bosh? “Basketball and stuff.” That’s what he told TMZ Sports outside Coral Tree Cafe in L.A. moments ago — advising his fans not to close the book on his NBA career just yet. “Health is great, feeling great,” Bosh said … noting that he’s focusing on being a dad while he figures out his next basketball move.
Chris Bosh: Man, losing in the finals is one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had in my life. It was definitely a huge lesson in humility. Losing to the team from my hometown and then experiencing a postponed season the next year was very difficult. I was so embarrassed, I was reluctant to go out in public. It was so hard to face everyone. Coming out of that time, I learned about perseverance. You never really know its true meaning until you have to go—and grow—through tough times. But you stayed positive, Miami. You stayed with us and supported us and reinforced that belief that we could do it—and we did! That’s what makes those moments so special. I saw my teammates, my friends and brothers, shine brightest in the darkest moments of their lives. It wasn’t about coming through with a great play or winning a crucial game on the road. It was the fact that these guys did it with so much on the line. We beat the odds so many times.
Bosh: This community has welcomed me with open arms from day one. The city’s rich tradition and culture is unique and you can feel it from the moment you land in Miami. The fans have always greeted my family with positivity, just trying to put smiles on the kids’ faces. That’s the thing I love about the community. You all have shown appreciation every time we were out for events or just walking through the streets. I’ve met people who have had lifetime season tickets, and I can see the pride in their eyes when they tell me. I’ve also picked up a great deal of Spanish and now have a tool for life to help me communicate with more people around the world. Learning how to order a cafe con leche o ropa vieja on Calle Ocho has become natural to me. That’s amazing!
But in his letter, Bosh chose to reflect more on the good times he had since joining the Heat in 2010 and playing such a huge role in the team going to the NBA Finals in four consecutive seasons and winning two championships. “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,” Bosh wrote. “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.”
Even though he has been deemed to have a career-ending condition , Bosh could play again if he chooses to and if a team gives him medical clearance. Getting such clearance would be, at best, daunting. “I’ve learned how to dream again,” Bosh wrote. “I’ve learned how to appreciate the game of basketball and all the things I’ve experienced even more now. … 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.”
Ira Winderman: Chris Bosh has cleared waivers and is now a free agent for the first time since July 2014.
Heat waive Chris Bosh
Ira Winderman: The Heat have formally waived Chris Bosh.
Barry Jackson: Pat Riley announces Chris Bosh’s jersey number (1) will be retired. Classy.
The Heat is expected to release Chris Bosh this week, clearing the remaining $52.1 million of his contract off its salary cap and ending a seven-year relationship that including the exhilaration of two championships and the numbing news of multiple blood clots that ultimately ended his Heat career. Miami needs to make the move this week to push its available cap space from $9 million to a bit over $34 million. Players can be signed after noon on Thursday.
In order for Bosh to be cleared from the Heat’s cap, a doctor needed to rule that Bosh’s injury was career-ending or at the very least, would put him at risk if he plays again. That ruling happened in the past two months. But an associate said Bosh has by no means ruled out playing again. Bosh will receive the remaining money on his Heat contract – $25.3 million next season and $26.8 million in 2018-19, with insurance paying a substantial chunk of that.
Turner has had ongoing conversations with Bosh over the years about his interest in broadcasting but nothing definitive fulltime given he was playing. He was part of TNT’s “Players Only” franchise earlier this year during Monday night doubleheader action and did solid work. “Chris has been a contributor with us in the past and we have an open dialogue with him and his representatives,” a Turner Sports spokesperson said on Sunday. “No plans have been finalized for next season at this time.”
Asked Monday by the Sun Sentinel about Bosh possibly moving into broadcasting on a full-time basis, Turner analyst Steve Smith, the former Heat guard, said it would be an intriguing prospect.
“I looked at Chris Bosh even before he did ‘Players Only’ — I got a chance to watch that closely; I was in studio a lot of times, and obviously watched it — the way he’s conducted himself, handled himself in all situations, the way he’s comfortable with the media, you can see he has his pulse on a lot of different things,” Smith said during a break from his coverage of the NBA Finals for Turner Sports.
“In broadcasts, he’s very articulate, got his point across,” Smith said. “I think in broadcasting it’s also great that you can tell, no matter what the situation, he never really got outside of being Chris Bosh. So I think that’s another trait that he has that would be perfect for broadcasting.”
The source said in early May that Bosh had reached a unique agreement that would purge him from the Heat’s cap before the start of free agency but also give him the opportunity to play again, if he chose, without salary-cap consequences for the Heat.
There have been discussions about Bosh’s departure being termed a “medical retirement,” but that is not definite. And Bosh has by no means ruled out playing again. The Lakers would be a natural possibility; Bosh spends his offseasons in Los Angeles and the Lakers’ general manager, Rob Pelinka, is Bosh’s former agent.
“I certainly felt for him,” Allen said of Bosh. “My vote was for him to just not play because I don’t want to hear anything that wasn’t necessary to happen. His life, that was the most important thing. My household was just wishing the best for him and his health. Selfishly, we were saying, ‘Chris, just sit down,’ because we didn’t want him to do anything that was irreversible.”
Sidelined Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh said on a televised webcast Sunday that he believes he could return to the NBA as a player, but also said he respects the Miami Heat’s anticipated attempt to remove his salary from the team’s salary cap. Appearing on “Larry King Now” on the Ora.tv digital network, Bosh, when asked by the long-time broadcast personality whether he believes he ever will return to the NBA said, “Yeah, I think so.”
Bosh expressed mixed emotions about whether he misses playing. “I do,” he said, “but a part of me doesn’t. Yeah. I’ve come to enjoy different aspects of life. There’s a lot of life out there.
The Heat, once it purges Chris Bosh’s salary from its cap in the next couple of months, could have $39.5 million in cap space this summer, enough to sign a max player but not leaving much room for much else significant.
Bosh remains under contract with the Miami Heat, though the team is likely to begin a process of waiving him and getting salary-cap relief from the final two years of his deal. He’ll be owed about $52.1 million for 2017-18 and 2018-19, money he is guaranteed to receive but dollars that may not count against the Heat books. He is reticent to discuss his playing future, though acknowledged again that planning to play this season but not being able to because of a failed physical “was a challenge.” “I’m still a basketball player at heart,” Bosh said. “I can’t help it.”
“I’m a little bit more adjusted now,” Bosh said. “But before, you’re going 100 mph and the brakes are slammed on and now you’re not moving at all. It’s definitely an adjustment, just being able to get used to things and finding that purpose that I think we all need to succeed and have good mental health. It’s been a challenge. Things happen for a reason, I guess.”
The five kids at home, that’s full-time. And they’re used to having their dad at home when they arrive back from school in the afternoon, something Bosh — who is playing some basketball in workouts — has happily gotten used to as well. “People are so concerned and I appreciate it, but I’m doing fine,” Bosh said. “I’m very happy. I’m getting to do other things that I have never been able to do. I’m a beginner in a lot of things. But I’ve learned to like it, and just look at the nice new picture I have of the world.”
The use of blood thinners typically returns a blood-clot sufferer to general health, although the use of blood thinners is contraindicated for those attempting contact sports. The Heat, according to a source close to the situation, in recent days have attempted to reach out to Bosh in hopes of an amicable resolution, without response. Bosh remains with a stall in the Heat locker room at AmericanAirlines Arena, but has not been around the team this season, in contrast to his presence after being sidelined the previous two seasons.
Presuming a doctor agrees with that assessment, then Bosh’s contract would be cleared from Miami’s cap, creating an additional $25 million in cap room this summer and giving the Heat an estimated $38 million in space. But if Bosh makes a comeback with another team, that could be problematic for the Heat. Once he plays in 25 games for another team during any single season (including playoffs), his salary would go back on Miami’s cap.
An NBA-employed associate said Bosh has made no attempt toward playing this season but still has interest in playing again, health permitting. Bosh’s comments come days after he was in contact with the Heat’s medical staff, as the sides are expected to begin the process of a separation at some point in March.
NBA on TNT: Welcome to the family, @chrisbosh!
Chris Bosh mulling retirement?
Bosh, speaking at a CES gadget show in Las Vegas, did not address his health but said he’s still figuring out what he wants to do next. “I’m still learning more about myself and my situation, and really off the court how to function there because I’m kind of getting the taste of retirement now,” Bosh said, via the Associated Press. “Just trying to navigate those waters because it gets a little complicated sometimes. … Hoping one day that the stars align and I figure some things out and things kind of just go my way and I’ll be able to do what I want to do. I don’t know what that is yet.”
Bosh said “there’s still a lot of things” that he has to figure out. “I’m still learning more about myself and my situation, and really off the court how to function there because I’m kind of getting the taste of retirement now,” Bosh said. “Just trying to navigate those waters because it gets a little complicated sometimes. … Hoping one day that the stars align and I figure some things out and things kind of just go my way and I’ll be able to do what I want to do. I don’t know what that is yet.”
Bosh, speaking at the CES gadget show in Las Vegas, was asked how he’s spent time away from the court. “For me, I kind of just follow my passions and follow what I love to do and use my free time to kind of answer those questions and go through my bad moods and maybe a little light case of depression,” Bosh said. “Really, to search for what I’m looking for. And I’ve come to some interesting conclusions. It’s all about following my heart and what made me happy.”
Chris Bosh: Getting to check something off my bucket list by attending @CES ! Great way to start out the year. Who’s out here? #CES2017 #SBlatCES
Salary-cap relief won’t come until Feb. 9 at the earliest, but the Miami Heat are now positioned to receive insurance relief from the balance of Chris Bosh’s contract, General Manager Andy Elisburg confirmed Monday to the Sun Sentinel.
With Saturday’s victory over the Washington Wizards at the start of this four-game trip marking 41 consecutive regular-season games missed by Bosh, who failed his preseason physical after missing the second half of the past two seasons due to blood clots, Elisburg confirmed that insurance on the remainder of Bosh’s contract can now come into play. Bosh, who is under contract for this season and the following two seasons, has been away from the team since the end of last season, currently posting vacation social media from Southeast Asia.
Bosh has already received $9.5 million of his $14 million 2016-17 salary in up-front payments as previously negotiated. Even with insurance kicking in, Bosh continues to receive his payments from the Heat in similar form as previously. “We still pay Chris,” Elisburg said. “Chris is still the employee and we still are responsible for paying the salary.”
The Heat and Chris Bosh are still at odds about his health and when he might be able to play again after missing significant time because of blood clots. League sources said Bosh definitely wants to play again, but it’s likely not to be in Miami. The Heat could waive Bosh, but if he played 25 games this season with another team, they would get no cap relief in doing so. The Heat could trade Bosh to a club that feels he could play immediately and push it to a championship level.
The National Basketball Players Association is monitoring the Miami Heat’s approach with sidelined Chris Bosh, including the possibility of the team keeping the All-Star power forward on the roster long enough to prevent him from becoming playoff eligible for another team. A party familiar with the NBPA’s approach on Friday told the Sun Sentinel that the union is examining the situation, while also remaining cognizant of the ongoing medical and privacy issues with Bosh, who failed his preseason physical after missing the second half of the past two seasons due to blood clots.
The union currently is involved in the delicate stages of formulating a new collective-bargaining agreement, with a more proactive stance on Bosh expected to be taken should the distancing of the Heat with Bosh continue to a point where Bosh could possibly resume his career, the party familiar with the situation told the Sun Sentinel.
Bosh has been away from the Heat since his failed physical in late September. Heat President Pat Riley said he did not expect to have Bosh with the team at practices or games, a role Bosh took the previous two seasons when sidelined. Bosh has not approached the team about returning to the bench or locker room, according to a party familiar with the situation.
Manny Navarro: Yep. @Chris Bosh still has a locker here https://t.co/Ex0HlTj36P
Anthony Chiang: Chris Bosh: “I’m not really thinking about money. I’m just thinking about where my heart is. I love the NBA, I love playing basketball every day.” – RT: UNINTERRUPTED: Chris Bosh’s story continues in Chapter 5 of #BoshRebuilt, now streaming at UNINTERRUPTED.com pic.twitter.com/C5yJ9JbjiA
Ira Winderman: Chris Bosh releases latest video, says, “No matter what, I’m going to play basketball.”
Ira Winderman: Chris Bosh in new video, “I’m just as confused as everybody else.”
What was your reaction when you heard Pat Riley say he believed Chris Bosh likely never will play again for the Heat? Chris Bosh: Before I even focused on basketball my concern went out to CB as a person, as an individual. I have a good relationship with him. I have a good relationship with his family. My wife has a great relationship with his wife. Secondly as a friend you support your friend through the good, the bad, the ups and downs. Regardless of where CB’s career takes him or whatever his situation may be, we’re always going to have a relationship, we’re always going to be friends. I’m always going to be rooting for CB.
Chris Bosh done in Miami?
Miami Heat President Pat Riley said Monday that the team views Chris Bosh’s career with the team as over, that the team no longer is working toward his return. “We are not,” Riley said in his office at AmericanAirlines Arena. “I think Chris is still open-minded. But we are not working toward his return.
“We feel that, based on the last exam, that his Heat career is probably over.” Asked if he felt Bosh’s NBA career was over, as well, Riley said, “that’s up to him.”
Bosh has been sidelined for the second half of each of the past two seasons due blood clots, recently failing the Heat’s preseason physical. “It’s pretty definitive from us, in our standpoint, that this is probably going to be a time where we really have to step back,” Riley said.
Riley said the team has been surprised by Bosh’s comments about the team. “It wasn’t like [gesture of washing his hands of it]. He wasn’t just written off,” Riley said. “That may have been his attitude and his perception of it, because he didn’t want to believe what was out there. That bothered me. He wasn’t written off. “Besides that, we did everything we could.”
Chris Bosh not retiring
Bosh has indicated to associates that he has no plans to retire at this time and intends to play next season for the Heat. He is under contract for three seasons after this one, at roughly $75.5 million. Even if he retired this offseason, the Heat would not receive any salary-cap relief until summer 2017.
According to multiple sources, although the Heat remains supportive of Bosh (he traveled on owner Micky Arison’s plane), they have not all been aligned in terms of the treatment of his condition. The team has been the more cautious party, making it known behind the scenes that, just because an outside doctor clears Bosh, it doesn’t mean the team will be comfortable letting him play. That would be true even with a medical waiver that would in some way limit liability.
Bosh, eager to return, has sought opinions from multiple doctors about whether it was safe to come off the blood thinners in order to resume playing this season. On that issue, there were different opinions among the doctors consulted by Bosh, according to two sources with direct knowledge. But most of the doctors consulted believed Bosh should continue taking the blood thinners for several months, which is common treatment for the condition, even though the clot dissipated several weeks ago. That is ultimately the course Bosh took.
April 9, 2020 | 9:12 pm EDT Update
Gerald Bourguet: (5) Devin Booker beats (13) Rui Hachimura 71-55 in the quarterfinals of the NBA 2K Tournament. He’ll face the winner of (16) Derrick Jones Jr. and (8) Montrezl Harrell
Gerald Bourguet: (8) Montrezl Harrell beats (16) Derrick Jones Jr. 71-66 in the quarterfinals of the NBA 2K tournament, advancing to face (5) Devin Booker in the semis
Farbod Esnaashari: Montrezl Harrell and Derrick Jones Jr just showed more sportsmanship I’ve ever seen during an online game in my life. Jones: “Good game bro.” Trez: “Great game bro.” Jones: “Good luck in the next round.”
Will the NBA’s indefinite suspension limit what the Warriors do with the checkbook in the offseason? “We’re looking at all of those questions and the possible answers. But I don’t really have a good sense yet because I really have no idea how this is gonna shake out,” Lacob told Tim Kawakami of The Athletic on Thursday morning. “We don’t know what the salary cap is gonna be, we don’t know what the luxury tax is gonna be. We don’t really know what we can plan on at this point. We just have to look at a lot of different scenarios. That’s what we’re doing right now. It could make a huge difference, it might make no difference.”
Former Notre Dame High School star, and current Marshall Thundering Herd junior standout, Jarrod West has announced he’s entering the 2020 NBA Draft process.
As Illinois goes through this together, the United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks, is proud to be playing a critical role with our city, state and federal response to the pandemic. As announced on March 25, our arena and outside campus will be transformed into a logistics hub where we will be assisting with food storage for hunger relief, first responder staging and the collection of critically needed medical supplies.
Moving forward, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago’s food bank, will be utilizing the United Center as a satellite storage facility in response to the increased need for food. By alleviating space in the food bank’s warehouse, the Food Depository can bring additional volunteers into their facility to build more family food boxes in an environment that adheres to social distancing protocols. These boxes will continue to be distributed to those in need by the Food Depository’s partner network throughout Chicago and Cook County.
April 9, 2020 | 7:56 pm EDT Update
Pau Gasol contemplating retirement
With the league’s current campaign suspended indefinitely due to the global outbreak of the coronavirus, Gasol, who will turn 40 years old in July, is contemplating retirement at this point of his career. “With this recovery process and the injury that I have been dealing with for more than a year, it’s undoubtedly inevitable to think about retirement,” Gasol said in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El País, via NBC Sports. “Also, taking into account that I will be 40 years old in a few months. So, [retirement] is definitely on my mind.”
“It’s something that will come one time, sooner or later,” Gasol said of retirement. “We hope that time hasn’t come yet. But I also take the opportunity to focus on the Gasol Foundation and other off-court projects. And also think of what my next professional stage may be, my next challenges. All this while I’m still recovering, trying to give myself a chance to keep playing. Now, the priority is to overcome this pandemic among all. Everything else is completely secondary.”
The masks are among those Fanatics recently made at the company’s factory in Easton out of material usually used for uniforms for Major League Baseball jerseys for the Phillies and New York Yankees. So the police officers’ masks will be Phillies pinstripe masks.
In 2011, Jacob Hamilton was a 26-year-old cinematographer looking to expand his portfolio by directing a documentary. He came across a two-minute interview online titled, “The Man Who Invented the Jump Shot.” Four years later, Hamilton was screening his short film in Kevin Durant’s backyard, shocked to see one of the NBA’s best-ever jump shooters geek out over footage he’d gathered of Kenny Sailors from the 1940s. The film was still only halfway to the finish line. “Jump Shot” premiered at South by Southwest in 2019, but still hasn’t been released to the public. That will change next week, when the feature-length documentary will be available online April 16-18. Pre-order is underway at jumpshotmovie.com.
“Jump Shot” got two of its most important assists from NBA superstars Steph Curry and Durant. Hamilton had simply hoped for an interview when, through a connection between an executive producer and a chaplain for USA Basketball, the former Golden State Warriors teammates were introduced to Sailors’ legacy. The crew flew to Oakland and were invited to Durant’s home. Partway through the screening, KD asked for the film to be paused. Hamilton feared the worst, a bored millennial. In reality, the former Longhorns star was mesmerized. “These are moves that I’m doing today,” Hamilton recalls Durant telling them. “I was literally working on this in practice this week, and Kenny was doing this 60-70 years ago? This is unbelievable.”
Curry took his adoration a step further when he told Hamilton he was not only up for an interview, but wanted to get more involved. That’s how basketball’s greatest jump shooter became an executive producer. Both players are interviewed in the film, along with a lineup of basketball legends — from Dirk Nowitzki to Bob Knight, Nancy Lieberman and Clark Kellogg. Their astonishment at Sailors’ pioneering shot, particularly a photograph that appeared in Life magazine in 1946, will resonate with basketball fans.
April 9, 2020 | 6:35 pm EDT Update
Waiters, who’d been signed by Los Angeles less than a week beforehand and hadn’t even played a game with the Lakers yet, was watching the battle between Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic when the decision came down. “People start sending stuff, it got crazy,” Waiters told Sports Illustrated. “At that time, [the Lakers] were still trying to get all the information. Everybody found out at the same time.”
Waiters remained in Los Angeles to work out after the suspension, though those activities were soon banned. Then Waiters, like the rest of his teammates, was tested for the coronavirus in mid-March, a process he described as “terrible.” “They stick a Q-tip into your nose, it touches the front of your brain,” Waiters describes. “You start coughing and everything, it was the worst.”
When this all ends, whenever that is, what’s the one thing you’re most looking forward to doing on that first day? Dion Waiters: Just trying to hoop. Just vibe out and hoop. I’ve had damn near the whole season off. I’m trying to get back and hoop. I got something to prove at the end of the day. During this quarantine I’ve been dieting, getting my weight down, getting in shape. For me, it’s just playing basketball.
The partnership formed between Zach LaVine and the Chicago Bulls is allowing for the delivery of food and beverages to 2,000 healthcare workers at different Advocate and Rush locations across the Chicagoland area.
Without access to a studio or control room and with all cast and crew members isolated in their respective homes, it was impossible for “The Jump” to continue as a live, hour-long show with the high-level production value fans know and love. That is, until now.
Thanks to special software, iPad cameras, adjusted WiFi speeds, volume control, and “incredible ingenuity,” the “Live from Home” team — which comprises ESPN’s Remote Ops, Production, Production Ops, Creative Services, Transmission, Network Engineering, and Media Engineering teams — were able to pull off the spectacular feat of creating a live, hour-long daily show from their living rooms and basements.
“I am in such debt to the people who worked so incredibly hard on the technical side to make what I believe is still magic — there might be some elves involved, it is Disney after all,” ‘The Jump” host Rachel Nichols told Insider. “I can’t believe that they were able to figure out a way to produce an entire television show with everybody at home, not a single person in our television facility.”
April 9, 2020 | 6:29 pm EDT Update
If nothing else at a time when the Clippers have more questions than answers amid the NBA’s hiatus because of COVID-19, the team is confident in at least one thing to be true. Should the season resume, the same roster that had been dogged by injuries since last summer is on track to be the healthiest it has been. “The Kawhi [Leonard] we’ll see will be in phenomenal shape,” coach Doc Rivers said, adding that Paul George “is another guy that’s goig to be in phenomenal shape. Reggie [Jackson], who was injured when we got him, will now be healthy.”
Since there is a pause on all roster transactions across the league, the 10-day contract Noah signed remains in effect one month later. That has left the former defensive player of the year able to work into shape under the supervision of the team’s medical and performance staffs. “It’s been great for him,” Rivers said. “There are certain individuals who this rest period, or whatever this is called, has been a benefit, and Jo is one of them for sure because he’s got a chance now to get healthy, and to get in shape and that will be a factor for him. He will be a guy that will be able to help us.”
“I talked to Kevin Garnett on the day he went into the Hall of Fame and we had a long talk, but one of the things he actually said is, ‘Man, I can’t wait for the playoffs,’” Rivers said. “In typical KG fashion, ‘No excuses! Nobody should have any excuses! Everyone’s going to be healthy! Everyone’s going to be rested!’”
A whopping 72% of Americans polled said they would not attend if sporting events resumed without a vaccine for the coronavirus. The poll, which had a fairly small sample size of 762 respondents, was released Thursday by Seton Hall University’s Stillman School of Business. When polling respondents who identified as sports fans, 61% said they would not go to a game without a vaccine. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 3.6%.
Only 12% of all respondents said they would go to games if social distancing could be maintained, which would likely lead to a highly reduced number of fans, staff and media at games. For example, fan capacity for a Los Angeles Lakers or LA Clippers game at Staples Center is around 19,000.
Noordin Said, a beloved security official to NBA players and numerous musical artists, died Tuesday in New York after contracting COVID-19, his daughter confirmed to Yahoo Sports. Said’s mother, Anezia Clemons, who lived with him in New York, also died from COVID-19 approximately seven hours before her 56-year-old son, who died at 1:32 a.m. ET on Tuesday.
NBA star DeMarcus Cousins first hired Noordin Said to be his personal security guard in 2015 during All-Star weekend in New York. From there, the two hit it off, and Said worked the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and the 2017 All-Star weekend in New Orleans at Cousins’ side. Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green hired Said to be his personal security guard during the 2018 playoffs, and Said worked this season with Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo at most home games.
April 9, 2020 | 5:21 pm EDT Update
As the coronavirus pandemic continues across the world, NBA owners are hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. The league plans to keep all options to resume the season available for the time being, sources told ESPN, but the financial realities of the situation demand near immediate action. That has become clear in talks between the NBA, the National Basketball Players Association and player agents, sources told ESPN, as the league tries to get its finances in order in the event the rest of the season must be canceled.
The league’s CBA includes a force majeure clause, enabling owners to cancel games and recover salary in the event of a pandemic. This clause also gives the league a 60-day window within which it can rip up the CBA entirely — effectively beginning a work stoppage. No one wants to do that. But it underscores the gravity of the situation. Still, in recent years the two sides have worked as well together as ever, and the CBA isn’t set to expire until 2024.
The agreement between owners and players in the last CBA calls for roughly splitting revenue 50/50 and also splitting the coming losses. So, the owners want to hold back a percentage of players’ checks going forward — both giving them extra money they can use now, if needed, and also to help balance the books in the event some, or all, of the remainder of the season is canceled. From an economic standpoint, both sides would prefer to limit the pain of the shutdown to only this season and not start next season with IOUs on the ledger. Setting the money aside now would help do that.
Karnisovas, who was the only candidate to get multiple interviews the past few days – including a final conversation with chairman Jerry Reinsdorf – will be replacing John Paxson. A source said that Paxson will move into an advisory role, still being a sounding board for the Reinsdorfs — Jerry and Michael — and would only offer opinions in basketball matters if Karnisovas asks. This is completely Karnisovas’ show, and an important one.
Karnisovas will have full decision making over basketball operations, including the futures of Forman, head coach Jim Boylen, and the entire coaching staff. He was even asked about Paxson, and had the option of having the organization move on from the long-time Bulls executive if that’s what he desired. However, a source indicated that Karnisovas had no issues with the Reinsdorfs keeping Paxson around.
There were multiple reports that the search angered a handful of African American executives around the league, who felt like people of color weren’t involved in the searching process by the Bulls. A source close to the situation, however, indicated that not only did Michael Reinsdorf reach out to multiple minority candidates to try and get interviews – but was denied permission to do so by their current organizations, and in some cases simply turned down.
In an attempt to give fans an opportunity to help out those in need in the Central Florida community while also having a shot at winning a unique fan experience at a future NBA game, the Orlando Magic’s television and radio broadcasters will host an online donation drive in conjunction with the Christian Service Center.
April 9, 2020 | 5:10 pm EDT Update
His one concern, according to the source, is with Arturas Karnisovas now calling the shots, Boylen was at least hoping for a chance to sit down with his new bosses and discuss his year-and-a-half on the job before they make a final decision.
One of the most indelible images from the night the NBA shut down was a young girl crying at a Sacramento Kings game. Her tear-stained face and broken heart reflected how many people felt about the temporary end of life as we knew it and the indefinite stoppage of sports. That girl’s name is Sophie, and Kings player Harry Giles wanted to make her feel better. So he recently sent her and her brother a sweet video message. He apologized for the way their last game ended, and to make up for it, he invited them to a Kings game when sports are back underway. Not surprisingly, Sophie was extremely excited.
On Monday, Curry surprised an intensive care nurse and her fellow staffers with a FaceTime appearance in which the two-time NBA MVP shared how inspired he was by her dedication as a front-line healthcare worker.
Shelby Delaney of the Summit Medical Center in Oakland was one of the first nurses to volunteer to help coronavirus patients at the hospital. Curry made sure the 27-year-old knew how important that was. “I can’t thank God enough for what you’re doing and just the sacrifice, the selflessness and the way everybody’s coming together,” Curry told her on the call. “Thank you so much for just what you do, your heart and the inspiration you provide for everybody.”
April 9, 2020 | 5:02 pm EDT Update
Wizards not expecting John Wall back this season
Chris Miller: #Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard says it’s still not feasible for @John Wall to play this season despite the #coronavirus postponing the #NBA season. #RepTheDistrict
Candace Buckner: #Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard asked about preparing for upcoming draft: Says scouting group is doing video conference calls, talking in-depth about specific players and digesting game footage. At this point, Wiz have a lottery pick and second-round selection which would be No. 37
Beal offered this when asked by Lowe about the viability of resuming the season and what he is doing to stay ready: “We haven’t been doing anything for a month, going on two, who knows how long,” Beal said. “I think ultimately, not just for me, that plays a factor for everybody in the league. I don’t think anybody can come back and just go from zero to 100 and pick up right where we left off. There’s going to be some bad basketball if that’s the case…”
“I have an organization who basically gave me the keys,” Beal said. “‘We’re going to build around you. We’re going to get guys around like’ – if I go anywhere else, granted, it may be a good team, but I would be a piece. Who knows if my role would be the same? My role here is, I love what it is. I love [Scott] Brooks. I love what we have. I love our young guys. I think the fact that we actually have guys that are committed to getting better.”
Lowe opened the podcast by giving Beal the opportunity to address the omission: “I was angry, but I wouldn’t say I played angry because of that,” Beal said. “At the end of the day, I wanted to make the playoffs. The All-Star game was what it was. I’m not mad at you for your votes. For me, I will never take that moment away from the other 24 guys. Because that was me two years ago and a year ago. I can’t sit here and take that moment away from Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell and guys who got their first one.
Oleh Kosel: Griffin hopes teams get to model an offseason before games start if 2019-20 season resumes for conditioning/injury prevention. So equal time for both informal work & training camp (TC). Say if NBA schedules 2-week TC, players have access to work on games in prior 2-week period.
After tallying the votes from readers, Awful Announcing listed the team of announcers on YES’s broadcast of Nets games as the top NBA local broadcast. Voters were able to give letter grades from A to F. The YES team’s most popular grade was an A (72.73%), edging out the New York Knicks’ broadcast team by 2.58%.
April 9, 2020 | 4:50 pm EDT Update
Eric Gordon said he would not object to having a season restarted in a sequestered location, one of the ideas the NBA is considering. But he also indicated it is too soon to know if even that will be possible. “That sounds like almost our only option,” Gordon said. “That’s the only thing that can make sense. Just coop us up in a hotel for months and see if we can have that chance to have the season. It’s still a dicey situation, so we’re just hoping this virus calms down and goes away quickly. As of right now, it doesn’t seem like it is.”
