Heat All-Star Chris Bosh facing another blood clot scare

MANILA, Philippines – Miami Heat All-Star big man Chris Bosh is in jeopardy of not playing for the remainder of the NBA regular season and beyond after being placed back on medication to treat a new blood clot in his left leg, multiple reports have indicated.

This new health scare for the 31-year-old, 11-time All-Star comes about a year after he was hospitalized due to blood clots in his lungs that sidelined him for 7 months.

No official confirmation has been made by the Heat, with Bosh expected to meet with doctors in Miami on Thursday, February 18, to further assess the situation, according to The Miami Herald.

Miami is currently 29-24 at the All-Star break, holding on to the fifth seed in the tight Eastern Conference playoff chase. They resume play on Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks. 

The issue with Bosh last season started when a blood clot routed from his leg to his lungs, leading to months of therapy, including blood thinners which required him to veer away from contact sports.

Bosh learned after last year’s issue that he doesn’t have the hereditary gene that increases the risk of recurring episodes, which he explained prior to the 2015-2016 NBA season.

The Associated Press reported on Wednesday, February 17, that Bosh is back on blood thinners to treat the new clot that has formed in his leg. 

The Miami Herald also reports that with Bosh back on blood thinners, he will have to avoid contact sports for “about 3 to 6 months,” according to Dr Robert Myerburg, a physician and expert on athletes and cardiology at the University of Miami Health System or UHealth.

“The problem is if you’re on blood thinners and have trauma, say you get hit in the head, that could end up being fatal or disabling,” Myerburg is quoted as saying in the report. “There’s a lot of precautions about this.… The one we worry about most is bleeding in the brain.”

The report also indicates that blood clots can form in people who have the hereditary gene, but more commonly takes place when “provoked by long periods of immobility resulting from injury or travel, or from a traumatic injury, typically to the leg,” said Dr Terry King, a vascular surgeon with Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston.

Bosh, a 13-year NBA veteran, has 3 children and is also expecting twins with his wife, Adrienne.

With another blood clot forming in his left leg and the risk of the issue recurring again, it’s possible that Bosh may contemplate retirement to keep his life out of harm’s way.

Neither Bosh nor the Heat have made any statement regarding that topic. Miami resumes practice on Thursday, and the team is expected to shed light on the matter then.

Bosh actually missed the All-Star Game and 3-point shootout this past NBA All-Star Weekend in Toronto after being diagnosed with a strained calf. 

According to the Miami Herald, Bosh told reporters he was “pretty optimistic” his injury was unrelated to the blood clots issue from last season.

Bosh, who’s one of the most versatile players in the NBA today, is averaging 19.1 points and 7.4 rebounds a game. Besides leading the Heat in scoring, he’s also leading the team in 3-point shooting at 37%. – Rappler.com