Chris Bosh failed a physical and has not been cleared by the Miami Heat to start training camp, according to the Associated Press' Tim Reynolds. There was evidence of clotting in his medical test, an issue that ended Bosh's season early the past two years, according to the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson.
Bosh has been dealing with clotting issues since the 2014-15 season, when a pulmonary embolism cut his season short around the NBA All-Star break. He recovered in time for training camp the following year and was presumably healthy until a clot in his calf was discovered once again around the All-Star break. He attempted to return for the playoffs while on blood thinners but was not cleared by the Heat.
Now the team has announced that after his latest physical he has once again not been cleared for basketball activities and there is no timetable for his return.
Coming into this year there were questions about whether Bosh would play again. He tried to quiet those concerns by assuring everyone that he had a treatment plan in place after consulting with his own doctors, despite the Heat's reticence. He even had a documentary made about the subject. Bosh seemed determined to return to the court, no matter what.
This setback might have changed his mind.
"Though it’s unclear if Bosh will attempt to play again," according to the Miami Herald, "he is not expected to file a grievance with the union or push to return in the immediate future, amid this latest setback."
Bosh's condition is not life-threatening if treated with blood-thinners, which he has been on, and would have remained on during the season. The fact that there is evidence of further clotting now, however, has apparently changed things for both the player and the team. The risk factor has increased.
Bosh is on the books for two seasons after this one. If a doctor selected jointly by the league and the players' association rules that he has a career-ending condition, the Heat can ask for his salary to be removed from their cap sheet on the one year anniversary of his last game. If he proves the doctor wrong and returns to the league after going into medical retirement, his salary would go back to the Heat's cap sheet.
Bosh is an 11-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion. He averages 19 points, eight rebounds and two assists for his career.
