Heat concerned about potentially serious issue with Bosh; agent said too soon to report another clot
The Heat was concerned on Monday about another potentially serious health situation involving Chris Bosh, multiple sources said.
Bosh missed Sunday’s All-Star game with a strained calf and returned to Miami for additional tests. A person in touch with the Heat’s front office said a worrisome problem surfaced Monday, beyond merely a strained calf. Another source said his life was not at risk.
Asked directly if Bosh had been diagnosed with a blood clot in his calf, agent Henry Thomas responded by text: “Too soon for all of that…. Too soon to report that.”
The Heat did not comment.
If Bosh, 31, is diagnosed with a blood clot in his calf, he would need to take blood thinners that would preclude him from having physical contact and would thus sideline him indefinitely. Last year, Bosh was on blood thinners for seven months.
He said at the time that if the clots returned, he would not be required to take blood thinners for the rest of his life.
Last season, Bosh missed eight games with a calf injury, then returned to play 21 games but was having difficulty breathing to full capacity.
Then, during the All-Star break, he was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs, causing him to miss the remainder of the season. Bosh said doctors suspected that the blood clots began with the calf injury.
Bosh said last summer that he was told there was “a fairly low risk” of another blood clot.
“The recurring risk comes from a hereditary gene," he said last September. "Fortunately, I don't have that. That was one of the dangers I faced earlier, was, 'Am I going to be able to play the game?’ Because if this test comes back that it's a recurring thing, it's going to be a problem.
“Anyone, if they don't take the precautions, it can be a recurring thing, yes. But I'm a lot smarter now. I know about the precautions."
Bosh said last September that he would take preventative measures, such as getting up to walk during flights, stretching his legs, wearing compression socks and taking Aspirin.
"Just the small things," he said, "Making sure after a game that you continue to move, that's the most important thing, keep that blood pumping in the legs. And, as a taller guy, it's a little bit tougher for circulation.
“That's one of the main primary things I think of, is, 'OK, let me make sure that I keep my blood pumping. Let me get up. Let me wear my compression socks.' Nobody likes to wear those, but they can do quite a bit for you if you take the time to wear them."
Bosh said being away from basketball increased his appreciation for the game.
"I know things can be difficult, but that's what drives me now,” Bosh said last fall. “I would rather be doing that than have tubes in my chest."
Bosh did not miss any games with the calf injury but decided on Friday to skip the weekend’s All-Star festivities.
He said Saturday that he was “pretty optimistic” that his calf strain wasn’t related to blood clots, but that he intended to see a physician on Monday.
“As an athlete, we try to keep going with some things, treating it,” Bosh said Saturday. “But it just lingered. And I didn’t feel it was wise to continue to push it, especially with this elongated week that we have off. I just wanted to make sure I was taking the necessary precautions and being a good professional.”
Bosh is tied for 26th in the league in scoring at 19.1 points per game and tied for 35th in rebounding at 7.4.
Bosh, an 11-time All-Star, is in his sixth season with the Heat. He signed a five-year, $118 million deal with Miami in July 2014.
Miami Herald sportswriter Ethan J. Skolnick contributed to this report.
The Heat was concerned on Monday about another potentially serious health situation involving Chris Bosh, multiple sources said.
Bosh missed Sunday’s All-Star game with a strained calf and returned to Miami for additional tests. A person in touch with the Heat’s front office said a worrisome problem surfaced Monday, beyond merely a strained calf. Another source said his life was not at risk.
Asked directly if Bosh had been diagnosed with a blood clot in his calf, agent Henry Thomas responded by text: “Too soon for all of that…. Too soon to report that.”
The Heat did not comment.
If Bosh, 31, is diagnosed with a blood clot in his calf, he would need to take blood thinners that would preclude him from having physical contact and would thus sideline him indefinitely. Last year, Bosh was on blood thinners for seven months.
He said at the time that if the clots returned, he would not be required to take blood thinners for the rest of his life.
Last season, Bosh missed eight games with a calf injury, then returned to play 21 games but was having difficulty breathing to full capacity.
Then, during the All-Star break, he was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs, causing him to miss the remainder of the season. Bosh said doctors suspected that the blood clots began with the calf injury.
Bosh said last summer that he was told there was “a fairly low risk” of another blood clot.
“The recurring risk comes from a hereditary gene," he said last September. "Fortunately, I don't have that. That was one of the dangers I faced earlier, was, 'Am I going to be able to play the game?’ Because if this test comes back that it's a recurring thing, it's going to be a problem.
“Anyone, if they don't take the precautions, it can be a recurring thing, yes. But I'm a lot smarter now. I know about the precautions."
Bosh said last September that he would take preventative measures, such as getting up to walk during flights, stretching his legs, wearing compression socks and taking Aspirin.
"Just the small things," he said, "Making sure after a game that you continue to move, that's the most important thing, keep that blood pumping in the legs. And, as a taller guy, it's a little bit tougher for circulation.
“That's one of the main primary things I think of, is, 'OK, let me make sure that I keep my blood pumping. Let me get up. Let me wear my compression socks.' Nobody likes to wear those, but they can do quite a bit for you if you take the time to wear them."
Bosh said being away from basketball increased his appreciation for the game.
"I know things can be difficult, but that's what drives me now,” Bosh said last fall. “I would rather be doing that than have tubes in my chest."
Bosh did not miss any games with the calf injury but decided on Friday to skip the weekend’s All-Star festivities.
He said Saturday that he was “pretty optimistic” that his calf strain wasn’t related to blood clots, but that he intended to see a physician on Monday.
“As an athlete, we try to keep going with some things, treating it,” Bosh said Saturday. “But it just lingered. And I didn’t feel it was wise to continue to push it, especially with this elongated week that we have off. I just wanted to make sure I was taking the necessary precautions and being a good professional.”
Bosh is tied for 26th in the league in scoring at 19.1 points per game and tied for 35th in rebounding at 7.4.
Bosh, an 11-time All-Star, is in his sixth season with the Heat. He signed a five-year, $118 million deal with Miami in July 2014.
Miami Herald sportswriter Ethan J. Skolnick contributed to this report.
