With the NBA releasing its official 2016-17 schedule, Miami Heat owner Micky Arison penned a letter to season ticket holders that briefly addressed how the culture of the franchise wouldn’t be changing despite the loss of Dwyane Wade.
Also in that letter, which was published on the team’s official site, he hinted at the return of Chris Bosh, who’s missed 67 games over the last two seasons due to blood clots, and there was some speculation he’d be forced into medical retirement.
“What won’t change is the culture of the organization. The Miami HEAT is a Championship organization. I fully expect this team, from Pat Riley to Head Coach Erik Spoelstra, to our veterans Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem, Goran Dragic and Josh McRobert, to our returning young core of Hassan Whiteside, Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson, to the fresh faces joining the HEAT Family to continue our mantra of being the ‘hardest working, best conditioned, most professional, unselfish, toughest meanest, nastiest team in the NBA.'”
Losing Bosh last season was a huge blow for the team, as he was their leading scorer (19.1), a proficient rebounded (7.4), and one of the most consistent outside shooters (36.5 percent). Miami wrapped up the season at 48-34 and in a three-way tie for first in the Southeast Division, but that was with Wade and Whiteside carrying the team in Bosh’s absence. Without DWade, who signed a deal to return home to the Chicago Bulls, the Heat are strapped for production on offense if Bosh weren’t able to play.
He appeared in 53 regular season games and traveled with the team throughout the playoffs. Bosh wanted to return to action in the postseason, but the organization didn’t allow it because the risk of clotting in both his legs and lungs could not only be career-ending, but life-threatening.
Bosh, who turned 32 back in March, is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.
Data courtesy of Basketball-Reference
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