Amid setback, it's unclear if Chris Bosh will play again

Evidence of more clotting was discovered during Chris Bosh’s tests with the Miami Heat.

After Chris Bosh underwent tests this week with the Miami Heat with the hopes of being medically cleared to play, evidence of more clotting was discovered that is believed to be related to his two previous blood-clot episodes, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Though the clotting is not life-threatening, according to Jackson, continuing to play in the NBA is unrealistic.

The Heat had gone into this week expecting to clear Bosh to resume his career this season, according to multiple sources briefed on the situation. But his clearance by the Heat always was contingent on Bosh passing his physical and no issues surfacing during a battery of Heat-administered medical tests this week.

And when an issue arose in blood work this week, the Heat concluded he could not be cleared to return.

[…]

Though it’s unclear if Bosh will attempt to play again, he is not expected to file a grievance with the union or push to return in the immediate future, amid this latest setback.

Bosh has missed the latter part of each of the last two seasons with blood clot issues.

Previous reports indicated that Bosh was hopeful he would be cleared to re-join the Miami Heat this week, and that the team was more receptive to the idea of playing while on a special blood thinning regiment. But among this most recent complication, it doesn’t seem likely–if at all realistic–that Bosh will play this year.

The news comes just days after Bosh released the first episode of his documentary series “Rebuilt” in which he chronicles his recovery from his condition.

In a Facebook Live Q&A earlier this week, Bosh mentioned he was “still in good spirits. I know things will work out for the best. We’re just in the process of making sure I can get back on the court.”

“I’m not going to lie to you guys, its been a very, very difficult process. It’s been tedious,” Bosh said. “For me as a basketball player it’s always been about just playing and really that’s it. We don’t ever really think about dealing with life issues or issues off the court. It’s always about just playing.”

Right now, it seems, it won’t be about playing.