Former NBA star big man Chris Bosh had his No. 1 jersey retired by the Miami Heat in March after being one of the definitive players of the “Big Three” era and helping to lead the Heat to a pair of championships.
Bosh has yet to receive the same distinction from the franchise that drafted him back in 2003, but is it possible that he actually has a more endearing legacy with the Toronto Raptors?
Here is a closer look at Bosh's career:
The star Toronto needed
The Raptors were in a bad place in the early 2000s.
They watched Tracy McGrady develop into one of the best players in the league when he signed with the Orlando Magic at the turn of the century, and Vince Carter–Canada's once-beloved son–began to stir problems of his own before eventually demanding a trade.
But as Carter moved to New Jersey, Bosh became the identifiable star that Toronto so desperately craved for years. He became an All-Star in just his third season, and he made the All-NBA Second Team during the 2006-07 season. Bosh averaged at least 22 points per game in five consecutive seasons between 2005 and 2010, and three times averaged a double-double in scoring and rebounds.
Bosh was one of the best traditional post men in the game, and he feasted on lesser opponents on the block. Unfortunately, Bosh's individual success did not translate to winning. The Raptors made the playoffs just twice during Bosh's seven-year tenure, getting bounced in the first round both times.
Of course, the absence of winning would not follow him to Miami.
Bosh's evolution in South Beach
It would be easy to dismiss Bosh as the third member of the “Big Three” alongside LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Indeed, he had his toughness challenged by Skip Bayless and other members of the media, and he did not have the same following as his co-stars.
Yet Bosh's development as a stretch four and a defensive menace was crucial to that Heat era.
Consider, for example, that Bosh posted his best defensive rating since his rookie season when the Heat won the NBA title in 2012. The next season, he tied his career-high of 1.4 blocks per game while posting the highest field-goal percentage of his career.
Bosh took more three-pointers in each season in Miami. His presence as an outside shooter allowed James and Wade to operate in the paint while giving them options on the perimeter. When LeBron returned to Cleveland? Bosh averaged over 21 points per game.
His Game 6 rebound in the 2013 NBA Finals–which led to Ray Allen's famous, game-tying three–is one of the most remarkable plays in franchise history. Bosh battled through blood clots to try to return to the Heat. Most importantly, he was a winner that was clearly willing to sacrifice individual success and accolades in order to accomplish team goals.
Bosh's own star may have risen in Toronto, but his legacy with the Heat is one that will age like fine wine.
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