“I Almost Dropped Dead” – NBA Legend Reveals He Almost Died From Pulmonary Embolism

Former NBA star Chris Bosh revealed during an interview with Sam Yip of HoopsHype that he nearly died in January due to a pulmonary embolism.

“Yeah, I had an episode in January,” Bosh said.

“I almost dropped dead pretty much and came back to life. I’m not joking. Yeah. I had another pulmonary embolism. It was in January. Yeah, yeah, this past year. I was in the hospital for a week,” the 11-time NBA All-Star said.

“But, take your medicine. So, I’m taking my medicine every day, taking care of myself every day, and watching it. So, I mean, no symptoms came either, you know, so,” he added.

Chris Bosh says he nearly passed away in January 💔

“I had an episode in January. I almost dropped dead pretty much and came back to life. I'm not joking. Yeah. I had another pulmonary embolism. It was in January. Yeah, yeah, this past year. I was in the hospital for a week.… pic.twitter.com/LJeYcY9XOd

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 3, 2026

Bleacher Report shared further:

Bosh has unfortunately dealt with multiple blood clot issues in recent years, and they ultimately led to the end of his NBA career.

ESPN’s Anthony Gharib summarized the ordeals.

“The former Miami Heat star first dealt with a blood clot in February 2015, when a clot formed in one of his legs and traveled to a lung, leading to a multiday hospitalization. He was released from the hospital and wound up playing 53 games in the 2015-16 season—the final campaign of his 13-year NBA career.

“Bosh was diagnosed with a second blood clot in his leg in February 2016 and missed the remainder of the season. He revealed in ‘Rebuilt,’ his documentary released that September, that Heat doctors told him his basketball career was ‘probably over’ after the second diagnosis.”

Bosh tried to play the 2016-17 season with Miami but failed a physical in advance of the campaign. He was waived in 2017 and announced a comeback attempt in 2018 but retired in 2019.

Last February, Bosh discussed a recent near-death experience where he woke up covered in his own blood. He spun his experience forward and offered advice to his followers, imploring them to not wait to take positive actions in their lives because time is short.

Watch Bosh discuss the experience below:

Some things change you overnight. I wrote about my experience. pic.twitter.com/d8tYNsnvx5

— Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) February 25, 2026

Bosh has been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame twice: in 2021 for his individual career, and in 2025 as a member of the Redeem Team.

He won two NBA championships with the Miami Heat.

TMZ has more:

As we previously reported, Bosh said he was getting ready for a date night when he felt a numbing sensation shoot down his leg.

When he woke up, he was in a pool of his own blood and his wife had called 911.

He detailed his perspective in February … writing, “After coming back from the darkness, there was no euphoric clarity. No life montage flashing before my eyes. No voice in my ear telling me it’ll be ok and what to do next. Just the gratitude for still being alive, and a newfound, sobering awareness of how everything actually is.”

“What did change was an immediate outlook on life that was simpler and more honest.”

Bosh was the fourth pick in the stacked 2003 NBA Draft … and played for the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat. His No. 1 jersey is retired by the Heat.

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