Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Bosh recently recounted a terrifying health scare that left him feeling "lucky to be alive." In a social media video, Bosh detailed an incident where he woke up "covered in my own blood" with no recollection of what had happened. He described the event as sudden and without warning, stating, "It was crazy. It was fast. It was instant. There was no warning. I didn't have any time to prepare for it." The former NBA star was preparing for a date with his wife when he suddenly found himself on the ground, experiencing what he called "just darkness" prior to waking up.

Bosh, who retired from the NBA in February 2019 due to recurring blood clot issues, refrained from disclosing specific medical details about this recent episode. He acknowledged his ongoing recovery, even displaying the lack of blood under his eyes as a physical manifestation of the ordeal. This near-death experience has profoundly shifted his perspective on life, prompting him to emphasize the importance of immediate action rather than procrastination. His message is clear: "No matter what it is, make sure you don't wait. That's the thing that I get from this. Don't wait to take action because it could come fast. It could come quick. And I'm lucky to be alive, and I feel great about that."

This recent scare echoes his past struggles with blood clots. Bosh first encountered a blood clot in February 2015, which originated in his leg and traveled to his lung, necessitating a multiday hospitalization. Despite this, he returned to play 53 games in the 2015-16 season, which ultimately became the final campaign of his 13-year NBA career. A second blood clot was diagnosed in his leg in February 2016, forcing him to miss the remainder of that season. In his documentary "Rebuilt," released later that year, Bosh revealed that Miami Heat doctors had informed him his basketball career was likely over after the second diagnosis.

Although Bosh had intended to play in the 2016-17 season, the Miami Heat, for whom he played six seasons, failed him in a physical before training camp. He was officially waived by the team on July 4, 2017, and in a testament to his impact, the Heat retired his No. 1 jersey on March 26, 2019. During his tenure with the Heat, Bosh won two championships and maintained impressive career averages of 19.2 points and 8.5 rebounds across his NBA career. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021, reflecting on his premature retirement in his induction speech: "After finally making it to the mountaintop with so much more to do, in my mind, so much more work to do, it all stopped. I eventually came to realize that we all have it in our power to make the most out of every day despite what happens, to turn setbacks into strengths."