Chris Bosh admits he was ‘offended’ by LeBron James leaving the Heat

Chris Bosh he said”offended” that LeBron James’ departure from the Miami Heat in 2014revealing that he learned of the decision via text message shortly before the news became public.

Speaking on the latest episode of All the Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, the Hall of Famers reflected on the abrupt end of the Big Three era in Miami.

“I thought it was BS. 10 minutes later it was everywhere,” Bosh said. “I understand, but at the time I didn’t understand. At the time I was ready to put the team back together because we had just lost, so we wanted to put something back together so we could win. And it really didn’t work out that way. I was offended by that to be honest.”

James left The Heat after four consecutive NBA Finals appearances alongside Bosh and Dwyane Wadereturning to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a second stint. Miami just had fell to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2014 NBA Finals.

Bosch said the emotional impact lingered after the announcement.

“I’m a competitor and tbh when you go back in the locker room and Bron’s not in that chair and everybody’s looking at you and D Wade for those 25 points, it’s like a curse, man. Damn, my knee hurts… I was upset it took months to get over it. We had to be in the same place, but we didn’t have to talk about coming back… ourselves and we don’t always have that easy thing of relying on the 6 to do his job.”

Chris Bosh says he found out LeBron was leaving Miami via text 10 minutes before it was announced 😳

“I thought it was BS. 10 minutes later it was all over the place. I understood, but I didn’t understand at the time. At the time I was ready to put the team back together because we… pic.tvitter.com/UjSJeuUmLi

— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) February 13, 2026

LeBron James’ Cavs return reshaping NBA landscape for Chris Bosh, Heat

James’ return to Cleveland resulted in four straight Finals appearances from 2015 to 2018, a franchise first championship in 2016 when the Cavaliers overcame a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors.

In Miami, the immediate consequences proved challenging. The Heat finished 37-45 in 2014-15 and missed the playoffs, marking the franchise’s first postseason absence since 2008. Bosh averaged 21.1 points and 7 rebounds that season before being sidelined with blood clots, a condition that would ultimately end his career prematurely.

Bosh returned for part of the 2015–16 season, helping Miami go 48–34 and reach the Eastern Conference semifinals. However, recurring health complications forced him to leave the field permanently. He was waived by the Heat in 2017 and was later inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.

James later joined Los Angeles Lakers 2018 and won his fourth NBA Championship 2020. Now 40 years old and in his 23rd NBA season, James is averaging 22 points, 7.1 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 50.2% from the field and 30.5% from 3-point range in 36 games. The The Lakers enter All-Star weekend at the Intuit Dome at 33-21ranks fifth in the Western Conference standings.

As time passed, Bosh acknowledged that the initial shock of James’ departure required a direct conversation before the former teammates could fully move forward.