Miami Heat: Chris Bosh’s retirement ceremony came at the perfect time

The Miami Heat officially retired Chris Bosh’s jersey on Tuesday, March 26 in a move that was perfectly timed.

There’s no working around it: 2018-19 has been a strange season for the Miami Heat.

Having retired from international play, Goran Dragic was supposed to return stronger than ever. Instead, come December, he had to have his knee scoped.

Hassan Whiteside was slated to prove that traditional centers still had a place in today’s NBA. Now, he’s coming off the bench behind Bam Adebayo.

There have been big-time wins over the likes of the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets, virtually erased by losses to the Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns.

And then there were moves like getting rid of Tyler Johnson‘s monster contract, but adding no immediate help to the books thereafter.

The story continues on though.

With only eight games remaining, the Heat currently sit ninth in the Eastern Conference, a half-game back from the Orlando Magic. They have been given a 41 percent chance at making the postseason, a statistic that isn’t exactly inspirational, but still comes with a sense of hope. They have a variety of opponents ahead that range from the Boston Celtics to the New York Knicks.

Peculiar circumstances, to say the least.

That’s why the halftime ceremony that took place during Tuesday night’s game came at the perfect time.

On March 26, during Miami’s battle with the Magic, Chris Bosh‘s jersey was raised into the rafters, officially marking the retirement of No. 1. The former star was introduced by Eric Reid, the Heat’s longtime announcer, and subsequently spoken of fondly by both president Pat Riley and best friend Dwyane Wade.

And then, it was Bosh’s turn to take the floor, a moment that gave the entirety of Heat Nation chills.

However, despite the magnitude of the franchise’s gesture, some were puzzled on the timing.

Having first been diagnosed with blood clots in February 2015, the forward was ruled out indefinitely in September 2016, after failing to pass the team’s physical. Although he was convinced he could one day make a comeback at the time, he never returned to the court for Miami or any other organization.

So one might ask, “Why now?”

Somehow, in a turbulent season, it seems like the only thing that’s made sense.

With Wade wrapping up his Farewell Tour and Udonis Haslem likely making his exit as well, it’s fitting that Bosh too transitions into the next chapter of his life. Plus, Riley isn’t getting any younger himself, and while there’s been no real talk of retirement, it’s bound to happen sooner than later.

But perhaps above all else, honoring Bosh at such a level helps to remind everyone just what Miami Heat basketball is really about — win or lose, playoff berth or not.

It shows guys like Josh Richardson that being underrated by the league doesn’t mean the front office won’t recognize true worth. It gives Justise Winslow a reason to keep looking up to experienced leadership, even after Wade moves on. It proves to Dion Waiters that having a big on-court personality is admirable, not something to hide.

Right now, the Heat’s priority is clinching that 8-seed in the East for the 2019 NBA Playoffs.

Retiring Chris Bosh’s jersey was the perfect reminder of what it takes to do just that.