AT 37, CHRIS BOSH is one of the five youngest Hall of Fame inductees in NBA history. Even though his career was cut short due to a blood clotting condition, Bosh still managed to carve out a legacy as an 11-time All-Star, a two-time champion and an Olympic gold medalist.
But his impact is more than bullet points: As a hyper-skilled and quick big man with a feathery jumper, Bosh epitomized the transformations of frontcourt players who have turned the NBA inside-out over the past two decades.
His career began in 2003 and ended prematurely in 2016. During that time, the NBA went through massive stylistic changes. So did Bosh.
As a rookie, Bosh entered a physical league dominated by Shaquille O'Neal and Tim Duncan in the paint. Bosh fit right in. He departed a league dominated by Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant from the edges. He still fit right in, thanks to his abilities to morph his game in the midst of his prime.
"I was watching Hardwood Classics on NBA TV and they were showing a game from the early 2000s and it was so funny watching everyone play inside the 3-point line," Bosh says. "Nowadays, it's five out and everybody has to be able to shoot."
As one of the most decorated big men of his era, Bosh was a power player in the pace-and-space revolution. Guards and wings had been playing fast and scoring from the perimeter for decades -- bigs were not. Bosh helped usher in a new era for NBA bigs on both ends of the floor.
