Miami Heat News: Chris Bosh's Season In Jeopardy With Blood Clot

A year after a blood clot in his calf forced Chris Bosh to end his season prematurely, the Miami Heat forward could be facing the same fate once again. The organization and team physicians are reportedly trying to get the All-Star to remain sidelined for the rest of the year.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, Bosh has been reluctant to shut it down for the season. Last year, his season ended when a blood clot moved from his calf to his lungs, and he’s been trying to find a way to play by using blood thinners. Ahead of a meeting with Heat officials, the possibility of Bosh returning to the court anytime soon is looking less and less likely.

Bosh hasn’t played since Miami’s Feb. 9 loss against the San Antonio Spurs because of concerns about a potential clot in his calf. Last season, the issue forced Bosh to miss the team’s final 30 games. The 31-year-old took blood thinners for several months, recovering from a potentially life-threatening issue.

Bosh skipped All-Star Weekend in Toronto after he was named to the team for an 11th straight year. He’s been an essential part of the Heat’s success since joining LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in Miami in 2010.

Following James’ departure last year, Bosh took on a bigger role with the Heat. He averaged 21.1 points per game after his previous high with Miami had been 18.7 points per contest. This season, he’s posted averages of 19.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists. His 81 three-pointers made are already a career-high.

Despite not being able to play, Bosh has stayed involved with the team. He spoke to the team during halftime of Wednesday’s game, in which the Heat narrowly lost to the Golden State Warriors.

"He's not ready to be out there yet," Wade told The Vertical. "It’s hard for him. But even him being around here, it’s helping the guys to see him. He’s dealing with something that’s very tough, but he’s coming in and showing us his personality, he’s been into the team. It’s meant a lot."

With Bosh, the Heat are one of the top contenders in the East. Miami sits atop the Southeast Division as the No.4 seed in the conference, and they are tied in the loss column with the No.3 seed Boston Celtics. The Heat were heavily involved in trade rumors at the deadline with the thought that Miami might make a move that could help them make a run to the NBA Finals.

But even with a starting lineup that includes Wade, Hassan Whiteside, Goran Dragic and Luol Deng, the Heat don’t have a realistic chance to reach the finals without Bosh. The Heat went 15-15 when he went down for good last season, missing the playoffs.

If Bosh is shut down for the rest of the season, he will be evaluated in three to six months. After this season, Bosh still has three years left on his contract worth more than $75 million.