Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Bosh has revealed he suffered another life-threatening blood clot earlier this year, nearly a decade after the condition forced him into an early retirement from the NBA.
Bosh shared the frightening details of a pulmonary embolism he experienced in January, admitting the ordeal served as a reminder that his battle with blood clots is far from over.
“I had an episode in January,” Bosh told HoopsHype. “I almost dropped dead pretty much and came back to life. I’m not joking.
“Yeah. I had another pulmonary embolism. It was in January. Yeah, yeah, this past year. I was in the hospital for a week. But, take your medicine. So, I’m taking my medicine every day, taking care of myself every day, and watching it. So, I mean, no symptoms came either, you know, so.”
The 42-year-old’s comments carry extra weight given his own career was cut short after suffering multiple blood clots while starring for the Miami Heat. Bosh was forced to walk away from the NBA in 2016 after doctors warned another incident could be life-threatening. He officially retired in 2019 after unsuccessful comeback attempts.
With San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama returning last season after overcoming a blood clot of his own, Bosh had one clear message for the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.
“Take your medicine,” Bosh said. “Make sure that he’s staying on top of his regimen to make sure that doesn’t happen again because it only takes one more time.
“It happened one more time for me, it happened twice, and I couldn’t play anymore.”
Wembanyama returned to play 64 games last season, helping lead the Spurs to the Western Conference championship and an NBA Finals appearance while also finishing as an MVP finalist.
Bosh also admitted his latest health scare changed his perspective, acknowledging that managing the condition will remain a lifelong responsibility.
“Yeah, you got to deal with it for the rest of your life,” Bosh said. “I thought I was past it. I am not. So, you know, it’s just making sure I stay on top of my regimen.”