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 an American former professional basketball player. He was a star in high school, earning the title of Texas Mr. Basketball. After playing one season of college basketball for Georgia Tech, Bosh was chosen fourth overall in the 2003 NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors. Many people consider him one of the best power forwards of all time and a top player from his generation.

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

In 2010, after seven seasons with the Raptors, Bosh moved to the Miami Heat. There, he joined other star players Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. This famous group was known as the Big Three. Bosh spent the rest of his career with Miami. He played in the NBA Finals every year from 2011 to 2014, winning NBA championships in 2012 and 2013. Bosh was an NBA All-Star every year he played for Miami. His career ended early because of a blood clotting condition. The NBA decided this illness meant he could no longer play. He played his last NBA game on February 9, 2016. Even though the NBA made this decision, Bosh tried to return to playing for three years. In February 2019, he announced he would retire. That same year, the Heat retired his No. 1 jersey. In 2021, Bosh was chosen for the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Bosh 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 suburb of Dallas. As a child, he often played basketball at home with his younger brother, Joel. Bosh started learning to dribble a basketball at age four in the gym where his dad played. Since he was always tall, he was good at getting rebounds against other kids. However, he only started playing basketball seriously around fourth grade.

As a kid, Bosh also took part in karate and gymnastics. He played baseball until high school, mostly as a first baseman. Bosh says his parents were the biggest influence on him. He looked up to NBA superstar Kevin Garnett and tried to play like him. Chris was also a great student. He was part of the National Honor Society and student engineering groups.

Bosh became very popular with college recruiters after leading Lincoln High School in Dallas to a perfect 40–0 season. His team was ranked number one in the country and won 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 made nine blocks. Bosh received many awards, including High School Player of the Year by Basketball America. He was also named "Mr. Basketball" in Texas. Many colleges wanted him, but Paul Hewitt, the coach of Georgia Tech, made the best impression. Bosh felt Hewitt cared about his goals and respected his dream of playing professionally.

College Career at Georgia Tech

Bosh decided to attend Georgia Tech, following his cousin and aunt. He studied graphic design and computer imaging, and later, management. At Georgia Tech, Bosh led the Yellow Jackets with an average of 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). He was only the second freshman ever to do this, after Antawn Jamison.

Bosh had planned to finish his degree. But by the end of the 2002–03 season, his strong performances convinced him he was ready for the NBA. Bosh left Georgia Tech after his first year and entered the 2003 NBA draft. He later said that while he missed college, he believed he made the right choice to become a professional basketball player.

Professional Basketball Career

Playing for the Toronto Raptors (2003–2010)

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

Rookie Year (2003–2004)

The 2003 NBA draft was one of the best in NBA history, with future All-Stars like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwyane Wade. Bosh was picked fourth overall by the Toronto Raptors on July 8, 2003. Other teams wanted Bosh, but the Raptors' General Manager Glen Grunwald turned them down.

In his rookie season, Bosh had to play as the Raptors' starting center. This was unusual for him after Antonio Davis was traded. Bosh, who was very thin, had to play against much bigger and stronger opponents every night. His coaches often praised him for his determination and willingness to play through pain. 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 team record for most rebounds in a rookie season with 557. Because of his great play, Bosh was chosen for the NBA All-Rookie First Team for the 2003–04 season.

Becoming a Star (2004–2006)

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, the team's main star, left the Raptors. This made Bosh the new leader of the team. After Carter left, Bosh improved his game, averaging 18.4 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. He won his first NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week award in January 2005. By the end of the 2004–05 season, experts predicted Bosh would become an All-Star. He was the team's top scorer and rebounder many times that season.

Before the 2005–06 season, Bosh was named one of Toronto's team captains. He kept working hard and often achieved double-doubles (scoring double digits in two different stats like points and rebounds). He led the team in scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage. On February 9, 2006, Bosh was chosen for his first 2006 NBA All-Star Game in Houston, Texas. He was only the third Raptor to become an All-Star. In March 2006, Bosh suffered a season-ending injury. The Raptors struggled without him, showing how important he was to the team. The Raptors finished the season with a 27–55 record. Bosh averaged 22.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game.

Leading the Division Champions (2006–2007)

Bosh improved his numbers in points and rebounds per game in the 2006–07 season and had to lead a very different team from the 2005–06 roster.

The Raptors made many changes to their team before the 2006–07 season. Bosh signed a new contract worth about $65 million over four years. He said he believed the team's future was "very positive." He also donated $1 million to a Toronto charity.

After a tough start, the Raptors began to play better. Bosh's leadership was key to their success. On January 25, 2007, Bosh was named an All-Star starter for the East in the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. This was his first time starting in an All-Star game. He averaged over 22 points and 11 rebounds in the first half of the season. In January 2007, Bosh was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month. He averaged 25.4 points and 9.1 rebounds, leading the Raptors to a 10–5 record that month. On February 7, 2007, Bosh scored a career-high 41 points, leading home fans to chant "MVP".

On March 28, 2007, Bosh set a new team record for most double-doubles in a home win against the Miami Heat. He helped Toronto make it to the playoffs for the first time in five years. Toronto then won its first-ever division title. They finished the regular season with a 47–35 record, which was a team record. As the third seed, the Raptors played the New Jersey Nets in the first round of the 2007 NBA playoffs. The series was exciting because Vince Carter, who had left Toronto, was now playing for the Nets. The Raptors lost the series 4–2. Bosh averaged 22.6 points and 10.7 rebounds per game during the regular season, both career-highs. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team.

Challenges and Changes (2007–2010)

Bosh in 2007

Before the 2007–08 season, the Raptors hoped to have a strong team with Andrea Bargnani and Bosh. They also added Jason Kapono for more scoring. Bosh had a slow start but improved as the season went on. He was named Player of the Week in January. On January 31, 2008, Bosh was chosen for the Eastern Conference team for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game. He missed 15 games that season, but the Raptors still made the playoffs with a 41–41 record. However, they lost to the Orlando Magic 4–1 in the first round of the 2008 NBA playoffs.

The series against the Magic was seen as a battle between Bosh and Dwight Howard. Howard played very well, while Bosh had his best game in Game 4 with 39 points and 15 rebounds. After the loss, Bosh said the Magic played better. He was not named to any All-NBA teams that year.

For the 2008–09 season, the Raptors traded for six-time All-Star Jermaine O'Neal to play with Bosh. Bosh, who had just won an Olympic gold medal, started the season strong. He averaged 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in his first three games. He also became Toronto's all-time leader in offensive rebounds. The Raptors struggled to win games, partly because of injuries and weaknesses in the team. Head coach Sam Mitchell was replaced by Jay Triano. Bosh was named an All-Star reserve but missed the game due to injury. O'Neal was later traded. The Raptors did not make the playoffs. Bosh had a career-high average of 22.7 points per game. He was one of only two players that season to average 20 points and 10 rebounds.

To get ready for the 2009–10 season, Bosh worked out to gain 20 pounds. 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. Bosh played incredibly well, averaging 25.4 points and 11.9 rebounds in the first 16 games. On January 3, 2010, Bosh passed Vince Carter to become Toronto's all-time leading scorer. He was leading the league in double-doubles. On January 20, 2010, he scored a career-high 44 points against the Milwaukee Bucks. He was named an All-Star reserve and Eastern Conference Player of the Week. After the All-Star break, the Raptors had losing streaks, and an injury to Bosh made things worse. They narrowly missed the playoffs, finishing with 40 wins.

Joining the Miami Heat (2010–2017)

Starting with the Heat (2010–2011)

Bosh in 2010

After the 2009–10 season, there was a lot of talk about where star players like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Bosh would go. Bosh used Twitter and had a documentary crew film his meetings with teams. On July 10, 2010, Bosh signed a 6-year, $110 million contract with the Miami Heat. He joined James and Wade to form a "superteam." Bosh left Toronto as their all-time leader in almost all major stats. He was one of only three players in the league to have 10,000 points, 4,500 rebounds, and 600 blocks in his seven seasons with the Raptors.

Even though they were expected to be great, the Heat started slowly with a 9–8 record. However, they soon improved, winning 21 out of 22 games. Miami finished the regular season with 58 wins. They faced the Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs and won in five games. They also won in five games against Boston in the semi-finals. In the Conference Finals against Chicago, Bosh played a big role, averaging 23.2 points in their 4–1 series win. In the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, Bosh struggled at first. But he made the game-winning shot in Game 3 to give Miami a 2–1 lead. However, Dallas won the next three games to win their first championship. Bosh was very upset after the loss.

Winning NBA Championships (2011–2013)

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 the game with 33 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists. By the end of the season, the Heat started using a small-ball strategy, with Bosh playing as the center.

In the playoffs, Bosh averaged 14.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. In Game 1 of the Conference Semi-finals against the Indiana Pacers, he hurt his lower stomach and missed the rest of that series and the first four games of the Eastern Conference Finals against Boston. Bosh returned in the Conference Finals against Boston. He continued to play center. Boston pushed Miami to seven games. In the final game, Bosh scored 19 points, including 3-of-4 from three-point range, helping the Heat reach their second straight NBA Finals. This time, they played the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder won the first game, but Miami won the next four to win their first NBA championship. Bosh scored 24 points in the final Game 5 and averaged 14.6 points and 9.4 rebounds in the Finals.

Bosh remained the Heat's starting center for the 2012–13 season. On February 15, 2013, Bosh was chosen as an All-Star starter. The Heat had the best record in the league. They easily won their first playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks. Then they beat the Chicago Bulls in five games, with Bosh getting 20 points and 19 rebounds in a key Game 3 win. Bosh averaged 12.1 points per game in the playoffs. The Heat reached the NBA Finals again, facing the San Antonio Spurs after a tough seven-game series against Indiana. The Heat and Spurs split the first two games. In Game 4, Bosh had 20 points and 13 rebounds, helping the Heat win and tie the series. San Antonio won Game 5, forcing the Heat to win the last two games at home. In the final seconds of Game 6, Bosh grabbed an offensive rebound and passed to Ray Allen, who made a game-tying three-pointer. In overtime, Bosh blocked a shot by Danny Green to secure the Heat's victory. Bosh didn't score in Game 7, but the Heat still won the game and the series, claiming their second straight NBA championship.

Coming Up Short (2013–2014)

In the 2013–14 season, Bosh played in 79 games, averaging 16.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He also made a career-high 74 three-point shots. In the playoffs, Bosh helped the Heat reach the NBA Finals again, where they played the San Antonio Spurs. This time, the Spurs were too strong, and the Heat lost the series in five games.

After the "Big Three" Era (2014–2016)

On July 30, 2014, Bosh re-signed with the Heat for a five-year, $118 million contract. This happened after LeBron James announced he was leaving Miami to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. After averaging 21.6 points and 8.2 rebounds in the first 23 games of the 2014–15 season, Bosh was sidelined in December with a calf injury. He missed eight games before returning. After playing in the 2015 All-Star Game, Bosh was hospitalized for lung tests. On February 21, 2015, he was ruled out for the rest of the season due to a blood clot in one of his lungs.

On October 28, 2015, Bosh returned to play in the Heat's first game of the season against the Charlotte Hornets. He scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. On November 10, 2015, he scored a season-high 30 points against the Los Angeles Lakers. On December 28, 2015, Bosh made a career-best 5-of-5 three-pointers against the Brooklyn Nets. On January 4, 2016, he scored a season-high 31 points and 11 rebounds in an overtime win against the Indiana Pacers. Bosh was chosen for the 2016 NBA All-Star Game and the Three-Point Contest, but he had to withdraw from both due to a calf injury.

A blood clot in his leg again forced Bosh to miss time after the 2016 All-Star break. Doctors and the Heat team urged him to sit out the rest of the season because of the dangers of his recurring medical condition. After the Heat's game on February 9, 2016, Bosh did not play any more regular-season or playoff games for Miami that year. On May 4, 2016, the Heat announced that Bosh would not play for the rest of the playoffs.

Comeback Attempts and Retirement (2016–2019)

Bosh was hopeful about returning to the Heat for the 2016–17 season. However, his blood clotting issues continued. In September 2016, Bosh failed his physical exam and was not cleared to play. On September 26, 2016, Heat president Pat Riley said that the team considered Bosh's career with them to be over. In May 2017, Bosh and the Heat reached an agreement for him to leave the team.

On June 2, 2017, the NBA ruled that Bosh's blood clotting problems were a career-ending illness. This meant the Heat could remove his contract from their salary cap. Two days later, the Heat announced they had officially released Bosh, ending his seven years with the team. Pat Riley said, "The number '1' will never be worn by another player and we can't wait to someday hang his jersey in the rafters." In February 2018, Bosh said he was trying to make a comeback to the NBA.

Retirement

On February 12, 2019, Bosh announced that he was no longer trying to play in the NBA. He planned to officially retire when his jersey was retired by the Heat. The Heat retired Bosh's Number 1 jersey on March 26, 2019, before a game against the Orlando Magic. In 2024, Bosh played in Goran Dragic's Farewell Game in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

National Team Career

Bosh with Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games

Bosh started playing for the national team in 2002. He was part of the 2002 USA Basketball Junior World Championship Qualifying Team, which won a bronze medal.

After joining the NBA, Bosh was chosen for the 2006–2008 United States men's national basketball team. 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. This team, which included other 2003 draft picks like Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, competed in the 2006 FIBA World Championship. They won the bronze medal by beating Argentina.

After the 2006–07 season, Bosh was selected for the team that would play in the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship. However, he had a foot injury and could not play. On June 23, 2008, he was named to the team for 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 wanted to recover from a stomach muscle strain that had kept him out of some playoff games.

Player Style and Leadership

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

Bosh usually played as a power forward, including his first season with the Miami Heat. But starting in the 2011–12 season, he began playing as the center during the team's championship wins. 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 someone his size. Bosh was especially good at driving to the basket and either scoring strongly or getting to the free throw line, where he was also very accurate. He was also known for his great jump shot.

Coaches found Bosh hard to guard. Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien once said, "We've tried over the years to put big guys on him. It doesn't work. We've tried to put small guys on him. It doesn't seem to work either." When Bosh was the main player for the Raptors, teams often used two defenders on him. 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. On November 8, 2006, he made a game-winning three-point shot against the Philadelphia 76ers. By the end of the 2006–07 season, he shot .343 from the three-point line, and improved to .400 the next season. With the Heat, Bosh became an important outside shooter, taking many 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. When he led the Raptors, he was not loud on the court. He preferred to be quiet and humble, but he expected his teammates to work as hard as he did. However, Bosh would also strongly correct teammates who made bad plays. Throughout his career, people often compared Bosh to Kevin Garnett because they had similar playing styles and body types.

Honors and Achievements

• 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

Off the Court Activities

Bosh at the 2007 MuchMusic Video Awards

Outside of basketball, Bosh 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 famous in the NBA, Bosh started his own YouTube channel and appeared on various TV shows. In December 2009, a DVD called First Ink was released, featuring funny digital shorts and a documentary about Bosh. He even 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 philanthropy (charity work). In 2004, he started the Chris Bosh Foundation. He remembered the challenges he faced as a young person. The foundation helps young people with their studies and sports. 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 groups of children about how important reading is. He has received the NBA Community Assist Award for his work in the community in Toronto and Dallas. In November 2008, Bosh promised to donate $75,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. He also supports increasing computer skills in schools through the non-profit code.org.

On April 9, 2011, Bosh married Adrienne Williams. They renewed their vows on July 16, 2011. The couple has three sons and two daughters.

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

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

See also

In Spanish: Chris Bosh para niños

• Toronto Raptors accomplishments and records