NBA Hall of Famer Chris Bosh recently spoke on a new health scare while offering heartfelt advice to the San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama, whose 2024-25 season was cut short because of a blood clot.
Speaking to HoopsHype’s Sam Yip, Bosh said that his battle with blood clots is far from over, and he stressed that Wembanyama must remain disciplined with his treatment if he wants to avoid a similar fate.
When asked what advice he would give to the young star, Bosh kept his answer simple.
“Take your medicine. Make sure that he’s staying on top of his regimen to make sure that doesn’t happen again because it only takes one more time. It happened one more time for me, it happened twice, and I couldn’t play anymore. So I guess with him, just making sure he does everything necessary to keep that blood as thin as possible and take care of that body off the court.”
The warning is of enormous weight because Bosh knows exactly what is at stake. The former Miami Heat superstar, whose own Hall of Fame career came to an end after suffering recurring pulmonary embolisms. What was once thought to be a manageable medical issue eventually made him retire at the early age of just 32. And it cut short one of the NBA’s most accomplished careers.
Now, years after retiring, Bosh said that his condition still continues to affect his everyday life.
The 42-year-old also offered a shocking update about his recent medical history.
“Yeah, I had an episode in January. I almost dropped dead pretty much and came back to life. I’m not joking. Yeah. I had another pulmonary embolism. It was in January. Yeah, yeah, this past year. I was in the hospital for a week. But, take your medicine.”
“So, I’m taking my medicine every day, taking care of myself every day, and watching it. So, I mean, no symptoms came either, you know, so. Yeah, you got to deal with it for the rest of your life. I thought I was past it. I am not. So, you know, it’s just making sure I stay on top of my regimen.”
The saddest part of his comments was his realization that this is something he will have to continue to live with for his entire life. But he also spoke about the importance of sticking to his medical routine.
And those words should definitely resonate with Wembanyama.
The Spurs franchise cornerstone was having a sensational second season before his campaign was cut short by a blood clot diagnosis. But since then, he has returned and led the Spurs to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Knicks.
But since coming back, the 22-year-old still averaged 25.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 3.1 blocks while shooting 51.2% from the field and 34.9% from three-point range. And those performances earned him his first All-NBA First Team selection, his second All-NBA Defensive First Team selection, and he also won the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Wemby also finished third in MVP voting and led the league in blocks for a third straight season. The Spurs remain confident that Wemby’s condition is under control, but Bosh’s story is just another reminder that blood clots are something that athletes cannot take very lightly.
Bosh, in recent years, has spoken about how his diagnosis completely changed his life. Earlier this year, he spoke about another medical emergency that left him hospitalized and gave him a fresh lease on life after nearly losing it. And now, his experience is a source of guidance for younger players who are also facing such challenges.
For Wembanyama, who is widely viewed as the future face of the NBA, Bosh’s message is not about basketball. It’s about health, discipline, and understanding that one overlooked treatment or one missed dose can have major life-altering consequences.
The hope around the league is that Wembanyama’s blood clot proves to be a rather isolated incident. But if anyone understands the importance of being cautious and vigilant, it’s Chris Bosh, whose own journey was cut short, and even after years of retirement, the battle has still not ended.
