More than 600 University of Miami students shifted in their seats with excitement in the Shalala Student Center Ballroom as they prepared to take photos of the semester’s last “What Matters to U” guest speaker, Chris Bosh, the former NBA basketball player.
Senior Kaylin Yudice, who is studying global health studies and also serves as Student Government’s chief of staff, moderated the conversation alongside Kysha Harriell, the senior associate dean of undergraduate education and the executive director of the Office of Academic Enhancement. Harriell is also a professor of clinical in the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Sciences at the School of Education and Human Development.
The dialogue revolved around the importance of work ethic, the ability to adapt, and overall life experiences.
Bosh began by telling the audience how he became “obsessed with becoming an NBA star.” It started in Ohio, when his father would drop him off at his grandmother’s house, so she could take care of him. There was a playground nearby where he would watch and play basketball with the other children.
He only played one year for Georgia Tech before being drafted to the NBA. According to Bosh, his college roommate helped him make the decision to accept the offer for the NBA, because he didn’t “feel ready to leave college.” The year after he left to play professional basketball, Georgia Tech made it to the Final Four. Although the team lost, Bosh was saddened that he didn’t get that college basketball experience.
Bosh took a moment to share his admiration for Jim Larrañaga, Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball team head coach, for keeping the University’s facilities open to him for training during the 2011 NBA lockout. The NBA player said this was a difficult time for him because he didn’t have anywhere else to train.
“Struggling and obstacles are part of life. Just find a way to persevere. It's better than the alternative,” Bosh said during an interview with student reporters before the event.
During the event, Bosh noted that he is in a different stage of life now. His motivation is “being an example” for his children and to leave impressions on those who meet him. He is treating fatherhood with respect as he wants to “speak clearly” and do what he is “supposed to be doing,” so his children can “see what success looks like from their parents.”
While playing professional sports, Bosh said, his motivation was to put his energy into making his childhood dream of becoming a basketball player come to life and to do well. He added that he doesn’t always want to be talking about his “glory days.” While he does enjoy “looking back,” he also wants to move on.
The former Miami Heat player noted that he wanted more titles during the “Big Three” era and wanted to “three-peat like [Michael] Jordan and Kobe [Bryant],” but he is happy with the success they had during the hard times they faced.
“Be patient and put your head down and get to work,” was Bosh’s advice to graduating students. He emphasized that success isn’t created overnight. It takes patience and hard work.
“If you don’t work hard for what you want, someone else will work harder than you and pass you by,” said the two-time NBA champion.
Acknowledging that mental health is an important conversation to be had, he said, “it’s good that it’s no longer a taboo.” Bosh’s advice about practicing healthy mental health habits is knowing how to disconnect. For him, reading was his distraction from basketball and the outside noise.
If it were up to him, Bosh said he would still be playing basketball. But “change is a rite of passage,” he pointed out. In 2016, he was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, forcing him to retire early. So, he knew he had to adapt. That time was naturally challenging, as he had to stop doing what he loved. He informed the audience that he is still “bouncing back from almost losing his life.”
In addition to the serious questions and answers, there also were humorous moments throughout the evening.
The students in attendance were probably 10 to 12 years old when Bosh made a guest appearance on the Disney TV show “Jessie.” Harriell asked him to finish the lyric to a popular song about him that was sung on the show. “Bosh, Bosh, oh my gosh,” she started. “Our team’s gonna kick your … .” The audience yelled with excitement when he knew the correct answer, “Tosh!”
Bosh was asked to address a common debate in the sport: Who is the better player? “Michael Jordan or LeBron James?” he was asked. As the crowd “oohed,” he was having difficulty answering. Bosh then admitted that he couldn't choose one because they are both “G.O.A.T.s,” or the greatest of all time.
The event ended with Bosh addressing questions that were submitted by students. “How does it feel to know you were part of one of the NBA’s most famous winning shots,” said Harriell on behalf of a student, referring to the rebound to teammate Ray Allen that extended the Miami Heat’s run in the 2013 NBA Finals, which they eventually won.
“I am glad I was a part of a moment like that. But I wouldn’t want to be in that situation again,” exclaimed Bosh. “Just take care of business and be up by five.”
