Chris Bosh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chris Bosh

Bosh with the Miami Heat in 2011
Personal information
Born	(1984-03-24) March 24, 1984 (age 41) Dallas, Texas, U.S.
High school	Lincoln (Dallas, Texas)
Listed height	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight	235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
College	Georgia Tech (2002–2003)
NBA Draft	2003 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4th overall
Selected by the Toronto Raptors
Pro career	2003–2017
Career history
2003–2010	Toronto Raptors
2010–2017	Miami Heat
Career highlights and awards
2× NBA champion (2012, 2013) 11× NBA All-Star (2006–2016) All-NBA Second Team (2007) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2004) No. 1 retired by Miami Heat Second-team All-ACC (2003) ACC Rookie of the Year (2003) First-team Parade All-American (2002) McDonald's All-American (2002) Texas Mr. Basketball (2002)
Career statistics
Points	17,189 (19.2 ppg)
Rebounds	7,592 (8.5 rpg)
Assists	1,795 (2.0 apg)
Medals Men's basketball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2008 Beijing Team competition FIBA World Championship Bronze 2006 Japan Team competition FIBA Americas U18 Championship Bronze 2002 Isla Margarita Team competition

Christopher Wesson Bosh (born March 24, 1984) is a former American professional basketball player. He was known as a top player in high school, earning the title of Texas Mr. Basketball. After playing one year of college basketball for Georgia Tech, he was chosen fourth overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 2003 NBA draft. Many people consider Bosh to be one of the best power forwards of all time.

During his time with the Raptors, Bosh became an NBA All-Star five times. He was also part of the U.S. national team, winning a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Bosh became the main player for the Raptors, taking over from Vince Carter. In the 2006–07 NBA season, he led Toronto to their first playoff appearance in five years. He left the Raptors in 2010 as the team's all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, and minutes played.

In 2010, Bosh joined the Miami Heat through a trade. There, he teamed up with other star players, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. This group was known as the Big Three. Bosh played for the Heat for the rest of his career, reaching the NBA Finals every year from 2011 to 2014. He won NBA championships in 2012 and 2013. Bosh was an NBA All-Star every year he played in Miami. His career ended early due to a blood clotting condition. He played his last NBA game on February 9, 2016. Even though the NBA said he couldn't play anymore, Bosh tried to return for three years. In February 2019, he announced his retirement. The Heat honored him by retiring his No. 1 jersey that same year. In 2021, Bosh was chosen for the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Bosh also created the Chris Bosh Foundation to encourage sports and education for young people in Dallas and Toronto. He often talks to kids about how important reading is.

Early Life and High School Success

Chris Bosh was born in Dallas, Texas, on March 24, 1984. He grew up in Hutchins, a nearby town. From a young age, Bosh loved basketball. He started learning to dribble at age four in the gym where his dad played. Because he was always tall, he was good at getting rebounds. He started playing basketball seriously around fourth grade.

As a child, Bosh also took part in karate and gymnastics. He played baseball until high school, mostly as a first baseman. Bosh looked up to his parents and NBA star Kevin Garnett. He was also a great student, joining the National Honor Society and engineering groups.

Bosh gained a lot of attention from college scouts while playing for Lincoln High School in Dallas. He led his team to a perfect 40–0 season, winning the USA Today National Championship.

The 6-foot-11 teenager helped Lincoln High win the Class 4A state title. In that game, he scored 23 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, and had nine blocks. Bosh received many awards, including High School Player of the Year by Basketball America and "Mr. Basketball" in Texas. Many colleges wanted him, but he chose Georgia Tech. He felt their coach, Paul Hewitt, understood his dream of playing professionally.

College Career at Georgia Tech

Bosh decided to attend Georgia Tech, following his cousin and aunt. He planned to study graphic design and computer imaging, then management. At Georgia Tech, Bosh led the Yellow Jackets in scoring, rebounds, and blocks. He averaged 15.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 31 games. He also led the Atlantic Coast Conference in field goal percentage (.560).

Bosh originally wanted to finish his degree. However, after his strong performance in the 2002–03 season, he felt ready for the NBA. He left Georgia Tech after his first year to enter the 2003 NBA draft. Bosh later said he missed college but knew he made the right choice to become a professional basketball player.

Professional Basketball Career

Toronto Raptors (2003–2010)

Bosh shooting a free throw during a game in the 2005–06 season

Rookie Season and Early Years

The 2003 NBA draft was one of the best in NBA history, including future stars like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwyane Wade. Bosh was picked fourth overall by the Toronto Raptors on July 8, 2003. Other teams tried to trade for Bosh, but the Raptors kept him.

In his first season, Bosh had to play as the team's starting center. This was a tough challenge because he was still young and not as strong as many opponents. His coaches often praised his determination and willingness to play hard. Bosh averaged 11.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 75 games. He led all rookies in rebounds and blocks. He also set a Raptors record for most rebounds in a rookie season. Because of his great performance, Bosh was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Becoming a Team Leader

Bosh and his teammates in a 2005–06 game against the Milwaukee Bucks. From left: Pape Sow, Bosh, Mike James and Morris Peterson.

In December 2004, Vince Carter left the Raptors. Bosh then became the new leader of the team. After Carter left, Bosh's performance improved greatly. He averaged 18.4 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. He was named the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the first time in January 2005. By the end of the 2004–05 NBA season, Bosh was the team's top scorer and rebounder.

Before the 2005–06 NBA season, Bosh was named one of Toronto's team captains. He continued to play well, often getting double-doubles (double digits in two stats like points and rebounds). On February 9, 2006, Bosh was chosen for his first NBA All-Star Game as a reserve forward. He was only the third Raptor player to become an All-Star. Bosh's importance was clear when he got injured in March 2006, and the Raptors struggled without him. He finished the season averaging 22.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game.

Leading the Division Champions

Bosh improved his numbers in ppg and rpg in the 2006–07 NBA season and had to lead a vastly different team from the 2005–06 roster.

On July 14, 2006, Bosh signed a new contract with the Raptors. He said he believed the team had a positive future. He also donated $1 million to a Toronto charity.

The Raptors had a tough start to the 2006–07 Toronto Raptors season, but Bosh's strong play helped them improve. On January 25, 2007, Bosh was named an All-Star starter for the East. This was his first time starting in the All-Star Game. He averaged over 22 points and 11 rebounds in the first half of the season. In January 2007, he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month. On February 7, 2007, Bosh scored a career-high 41 points, leading fans to chant "MVP".

On March 28, 2007, Bosh set a new team record for double-doubles. He led Toronto to their first playoff spot in five years. The Raptors also won their first-ever division title, finishing the regular season with a 47–35 record. In the playoffs, they faced the New Jersey Nets. The Nets won the series, but Bosh played well, averaging 17.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team at the end of the season.

Challenges and Growth

Bosh in 2007

Before the 2007–08 NBA season, the Raptors added new players like Andrea Bargnani and Jason Kapono. Bosh had a slow start but improved as the season went on. He was selected for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game. The Raptors made the playoffs again but lost to the Orlando Magic in the first round.

For the 2008–09 NBA season, the Raptors traded for six-time All-Star Jermaine O'Neal to play alongside Bosh. Bosh had a strong start to the season, averaging 26 points and 10 rebounds in his first three games. He also became Toronto's all-time leader in offensive rebounds. Despite Bosh's efforts, the team struggled. Bosh was named an All-Star reserve but missed the game due to injury. The Raptors did not make the playoffs that year. Bosh had a career-high average of 22.7 points per game.

Final Season in Toronto

To prepare for the 2009–10 NBA season, Bosh worked to gain more weight and strength. The Raptors made many changes to their team to try and convince Bosh to stay. They started the season with a win against the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Bosh scoring 21 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. On January 3, 2010, Bosh passed Vince Carter to become Toronto's all-time leading scorer. He was also a league leader in double-doubles. On January 20, 2010, he scored a career-high 44 points. Bosh was named an All-Star reserve again. However, injuries and losing streaks hurt the Raptors' chances of making the playoffs. Bosh became the Raptors' all-time leader in double-doubles in a season. Despite his strong play, the Raptors missed the playoffs by one game.

Miami Heat (2010–2017)

Joining the Heat and First Season

Bosh in 2010

After the 2009–10 season, there was much talk about where star players like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Bosh would go. On July 10, 2010, Bosh signed a six-year contract with the Miami Heat. This was part of a trade deal that sent draft picks to the Raptors. Bosh wrote a message to Raptors fans, saying it was his toughest decision because Toronto had been so good to him. When he left, Bosh was the Raptors' all-time leader in almost all major statistics.

With Wade and James on the team, Bosh's scoring average went down. The Heat had a slow start but then went on a great winning streak. Miami finished the regular season with 58 wins. They made it to the playoffs and reached the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. Bosh made a game-winning shot in Game 3, but the Mavericks won the series. Bosh was very upset after the loss.

Winning NBA Championships

Bosh in a layup line before a game against the Dallas Mavericks in 2012

On January 5, 2012, Bosh helped the Heat win a triple-overtime game against the Atlanta Hawks. He made a three-point shot with 0.6 seconds left to force overtime. Bosh finished with 33 points and 14 rebounds. The Heat started using a strategy called "small-ball," with Bosh playing as the center.

In the playoffs, Bosh got a lower abdominal injury that made him miss several games. He returned for the Eastern Conference Finals against Boston. He continued to play center, and the Heat reached their second straight NBA Finals, facing the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Heat won the series 4–1, giving Bosh his first NBA championship. Bosh scored 24 points in the final game.

Bosh remained the Heat's starting center for the 2012–13 season. He was chosen as an All-Star starter. The Heat had the best record in the league and swept the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs. They then beat the Chicago Bulls. Bosh averaged 12.1 points per game as the Heat advanced to the NBA Finals to play the San Antonio Spurs. In Game 6, with seconds left, Bosh grabbed an offensive rebound and passed to Ray Allen, who made a game-tying three-pointer. In overtime, Bosh blocked a shot to secure the Heat's win. The Heat won Game 7, claiming their second straight NBA championship.

Final Seasons and Retirement

In the 2013–14 season, Bosh played in 79 games, averaging 16.2 points and 6.6 rebounds. He also made a career-high 74 three-point shots. The Heat returned to the NBA Finals but lost to the San Antonio Spurs in five games.

On July 30, 2014, Bosh re-signed with the Heat for five years after LeBron James left to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Bosh started the 2014–15 season strong, but in February 2015, he was ruled out for the rest of the season due to a blood clot in one of his lungs.

Bosh returned for the 2015–16 season. On October 28, 2015, he had 21 points and 10 rebounds in the Heat's first game. He scored a season-high 31 points in January 2016. Bosh was voted to play in the 2016 NBA All-Star Game, but he had to withdraw due to a calf injury. A blood clot in his leg again forced him to miss time after the All-Star break. Doctors and the Heat team advised him to stop playing because of the risks. His last NBA game was on February 9, 2016. In May 2016, the Heat announced Bosh would not play for the rest of the playoffs.

Bosh hoped to return for the 2016–17 season, but he failed his physical exam due to continued blood clotting issues. In September 2016, Heat president Pat Riley said that Bosh's career with the team was over. In May 2017, the NBA ruled that Bosh's blood clotting issues were a career-ending illness. This allowed the Heat to remove his contract from their salary cap. Two days later, the Heat officially released Bosh. Pat Riley said that Bosh's No. 1 jersey would never be worn by another player and would someday hang in the rafters.

On February 12, 2019, Bosh announced he was no longer trying to return to the NBA. He planned to officially retire when his jersey was retired by the Heat. The Heat retired Bosh's No. 1 jersey on March 26, 2019. In 2024, Bosh played in Goran Dragić's Farewell Game in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

NBA Career Statistics

Here are Chris Bosh's statistics from his time in the NBA.

Regular season

Playoffs

National Team Career

Bosh with Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games

Chris Bosh started playing for the national team in 2002. He was part of the USA Basketball Junior World Championship Qualifying Team. They finished with a 4–1 record and won the bronze medal.

In March 2006, Bosh was chosen for the 2006–2008 United States men's national basketball team program. He helped the team win all five games before the World Championship. In August 2006, Bosh was named to the 2006 USA World Championship Team. Along with other stars like Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, the team competed in the 2006 FIBA World Championship. They won the bronze medal, beating Argentina.

Bosh was also named to the team for the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship, but he had to withdraw due to a foot injury. On June 23, 2008, he was selected for the team that would play in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. During the Olympics, Bosh was the main backup to center Dwight Howard. Team USA won all eight of their games, earning the gold medal by defeating Spain in the final. Bosh averaged 9.1 points and led the team in rebounds with 6.1 per game.

In June 2012, Bosh decided not to play in the 2012 Olympics in London. He needed to recover from an abdominal injury he got during the playoffs.

Player Profile and Style of Play

The mid-range jump shot was one of Bosh's trademark moves.

Bosh usually played as a power forward. However, starting in the 2011–12 season with the Miami Heat, he began playing as a center. Bosh was 6 feet 11 inches tall and weighed 235 pounds. He was known for his excellent speed, athleticism, and ability to handle the ball for a player his size.

Bosh was especially good at driving to the basket and finishing strong or getting to the free throw line, where he was also very accurate. He was also known for his well-developed jump shot. Coaches found it hard to guard Bosh because he was so versatile. When he was the main player for the Raptors, Bosh was often guarded by two players. He was known for passing the ball unselfishly to teammates who had better shots.

Bosh improved his shooting range by working on his three-point shooting in 2006. He showed great improvement in the 2006–07 season. On November 8, 2006, he made a game-winning three-point shot against the Philadelphia 76ers. He continued to improve, shooting .400 from three-point range the next season. With the Heat, Bosh became an important outside shooter, making many crucial three-pointers during their championship runs. In the 2013–14 season, he made more three-pointers than ever before.

Bosh was also known for his leadership. He was not very loud on the court but led by example. He expected his teammates to work as hard as he did. People often compared Bosh to Kevin Garnett because of their similar playing styles and body types.

Honors and Achievements

Chris Bosh achieved many great things during his basketball career:

• NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month: January 2007
• 9× NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week: January 3, 2005; January 30, 2006; March 26, 2007; January 7, 2008; October 28, 2008; February 1, 2010; April 5, 2010; December 23, 2013; October 28, 2014
• NBA Atlantic Division champion: 2007
• 4× NBA Southeast Division champion: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
• 2× NBA champion: 2012, 2013
• 11× NBA All-Star: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
• All-NBA Second Team: 2007
• NBA All-Rookie Team: 2004
• 2× NBA Rookie All-Star Game: 2004, 2005
• 3× NBA Shooting Stars champion (with Swin Cash and Dominique Wilkins) 2013, 2014, 2015
• Bronze medal winner with Team USA at the 2006 FIBA World Championship
• Gold medal winner with Team USA at the 2008 Summer Olympics
• Third-youngest player in NBA history to record 1,000 rebounds
• Fourth-youngest player in NBA history to record 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game
• Toronto's first player to achieve 10,000 points
• Toronto's all-time leader in rebounds
• Toronto's all-time leader in defensive rebounds
• Toronto's all-time leader in offensive rebounds
• Toronto's all-time leader in rebounds per game
• Toronto's all-time leader in rebounds per game in a season
• Toronto's all-time leader in blocks
• Toronto's all-time leader in free throws made
• Toronto's all-time leader in free throws made in a season
• Toronto's all-time leader in free throws attempted
• Toronto's all-time leader in free throws attempted in a season
• Toronto's all-time leader in double-doubles
• Toronto's all-time leader in double-doubles in a season
• NBA Sportsmanship Award (divisional winner): 2007–08
• Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Life Off the Court

Bosh at the 2007 MuchMusic Video Awards

Outside of basketball, Chris Bosh was an excellent student. He was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated with honors from Lincoln High School. He was also part of the National Society of Black Engineers. After becoming an NBA star, Bosh created his own YouTube channel and appeared on various TV shows. He voiced the Marvel Comics character Heimdall in an episode of Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. in 2014. He also appeared on episodes of Entourage, Jessie, and Parks and Recreation.

Bosh is also known for his charity work. In 2004, he started the Chris Bosh Foundation. He wanted to help young people with their studies and sports, remembering his own challenges growing up. The Foundation has programs in Toronto and Dallas. It works with groups like the Toronto Special Olympics to raise money for community projects. Bosh's mother, Freida, has been the CEO of the Foundation. Bosh loves to read and often talks to children about how important reading is. He has received the NBA Community Assist Award for his work in the community. In November 2008, Bosh promised to donate $75,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. He also supports teaching computer skills in schools through code.org.

On April 9, 2011, Bosh married Adrienne Williams. They have three sons and two daughters.

Bosh has also tried his hand at making hip-hop music. In 2017, he worked with music producer Rico Love to co-produce a song called "Miss My Woe" for Gucci Mane. The song was on Gucci Mane's album, Mr. Davis.

In June 2021, Bosh published his book, Letters to a Young Athlete.

Images for kids

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  Bosh with the Miami Heat in 2011

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  Bosh shooting a free throw during a game in the 2005–06 season

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  Bosh and his teammates in a 2005–06 game against the Milwaukee Bucks. From left: Pape Sow, Bosh, Mike James and Morris Peterson.

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  Bosh improved his numbers in ppg and rpg in the 2006–07 season and had to lead a vastly different team from the 2005–06 roster.

• 

  Bosh in 2007

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  Bosh in 2010

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  Bosh in a layup line before a game against the Dallas Mavericks in 2012

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  Bosh with Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games

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  The mid-range jump shot was one of Bosh's trademark moves.

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  Bosh at the 2007 MuchMusic Video Awards

See also

In Spanish: Chris Bosh para niños