People | Sports & Fitness

Chris Bosh: Basketball Legend In The Making


Chris Bosh continues to make a difference, on and off the court

Most basketball fans out there have either seen or heard of the Chris Bosh Raptors Basketball Starrookie sophomore sensation who’s been in the spotlight this year as the Raptors starting power forward. Some say he is a legend in the making; others are not sure what to make of this guy who is currently averaging 16 points per game and almost nine rebounds to boot. His name is Chris Bosh. And here’s a look at what he’s made of.

In 2002, Chris played one year of college ball with the highly respected Georgia Institute of Technology, better known as Georgia Tech. He originally came from Lincoln high school in Dallas, Texas. After he showed outstanding athletic ability in his only year of college ball, the Raptors picked him, and he was fourth overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft.

Chris’ early career highlights include being named McDonald’s High School All-American in 2002. All-Americans receive full scholarships, and most eventually play in the NBA, even if it’s only for a season or two.

Born on March 23, 1984, this 21-year-old has already built a large enough name for himself. He weighs in at 210 pounds and measures 6’10”, which isn’t even that tall compared to some of his opponents. But as a power forward, he’s a force to be reckoned with. Within the past couple of seasons, Chris has been selected to play in the NBA rookie all-star game in 2004 and 2005. He also was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2003. He was also in the running to play on the all-star team this year, but unfortunately he didn’t make the final cut. Although he didn’t maChris Bosh Raptors Basketball Starke it, his hopes are still high, and at 21, he hasn’t even gotten started yet.

However, what most people are unaware of once he leaves the court is Chris’ personal mission: to promote reading. “Reading is important for teens because it is the key to unlocking your imagination. Through a book, you are able to experience new cultures and different things. Reading is so essential because it expands your literary base and allows you to increase your knowledge in different areas,” says Chris, founder of the Chris Bosh Foundation. His foundation, along with the Toronto District School Board, hosts the Celebration of Reading — a Chris Bosh New Year’s resolution that sees the man himself making personal appearances and talking to school kids about the importance of picking up a book. “One of my New Year’s resolutions is to get more kids hooked on reading. Reading is one of the most important life skills a person can possess,” says Chris. Now, he wants to make sure you understand it’s cool too.

“Being a sports celebrity makes me a role model — a responsibility that I take very seriously. And I understand reading is important to a child’s mental, creative and scholastic development. My job is to relate to the children and let them know that it’s both fun and cool to read books.”

Raptors Basketball Star Chris Bosh with coach Sam Mitchell
Chris Bosh listens intently to Sam Mitchell, Raptors coach.

Co-written by and with files from Faze intern Jono Boysen



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