Home

NBA

Chris Bosh Reflects on Playing Alongside Close Friend LeBron James Ahead of His Hall of Fame Induction

Published 09/11/2021, 12:07 AM EDT

Follow Us

via Getty

Chris Bosh, a product of the iconic and the very best draft class of 2003, is now a well-deserving Hall of Famer. The 11x NBA All-Star saw a change in fate when he joined hands with LeBron James to form the Big Three in Miami. That decision helped him win the only two rings that his resume boasts today.

It’s true that with or without LeBron, CB4 was still arguably a first-ballot HOF caliber star, but teaming up with the legend helped. So prior to his induction, the man remembered Bron and his impact.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Chris Bosh on LeBron James pushing him to greatness

Recently, the Miami Heat legend discussed his first memory of watching LeBron James play for his high school team. 

The retired 6’11” center-forward stated, “The first time I saw LeBron play, it was the summertime of 2001, just 16. Back then, he was the best player I had ever seen. And even me trying to be a recruit, trying to be the best player I could be, and I was pretty good where I was, don’t get me wrong. But seeing him play, he pretty much always set the tone for that class…”

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

The King of the Dragons left Toronto because he saw a great opportunity in teaming up with two legends at the time. His decision proved worthy as the man averaged 18 points in his Miami career and elevated his game after Bron surprisingly left. One can’t forget his game-winners against Blazers and Spurs that made him immortal in the minds of NBA fans.

Chris Bosh’s Girlfriend Once Tried to Trash Talk LeBron James, and the King Answered Back Brilliantly

When CB4 first faced the Akron Hammer

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

As a 14-YO teenager, Chris Bosh led his Lincoln High School to an unimaginable 40-0 run. He helped his side win the state and the national championships before finding his name on the First Team McDonald’s All-American and becoming the ‘Mr. Basketball’ in Texas. 

On the other hand, it was LeBron James filling out stadiums and hitting cover images as a teenager. So it was only when a 17-YO Bosh met the King in ABCD camp (2001) that he got the smell of greatness. 

“He’s not super big, but he’s got good size for 16. And what happens is, this kid, he points to me. And then he looks at me. Then he points to me again. And he says, ‘I got him! I’m checking him!’ So I’m like, ‘Check ME?!,” Chris once remembered of that night. Turned out Bron cooked CB4 and that’s how it all started.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Today, the rumors are catching up that Chris, who lost his career early because of health worries, sees himself in a Carmelo Anthony role for the Lakers. But the man already had his jersey retired as a Heat player, while Toronto still loves him. Hence, there’s no way the 37-YO will don a Lakers jersey. Or is there one? Let us know in the comments section below.

Watch this story – Best NBA Rivalries of All Time

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Sourabh Singh

1,740Articles

One take at a time

Sourabh Singh is an NBA sports analyst for EssentiallySports, who has been working with the site since May 2020. Prior to this, he functioned as Managing Editor at WittyFeed, followed by a stint at Decathlon. The Sports Management graduate leads an active lifestyle, veering to the mountains for off-trail adventures.
Show More>