NBA All-Star Weekend: Chris Bosh on Miami Heat, All-Star Game and LeBron James

The 2011 NBA All-Star Game is nearly upon us here in rainy Los Angeles. The best basketball players in the world, from LeBron James and Dwight Howard in the East to Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant in the West, have arrived in Hollywood for a weekend filled with fun, fans and festivities.

Among those chosen by the coaches to play in the game is the Miami Heat's Chris Bosh, the 6'10" forward who teamed up with LeBron and Dwyane Wade this past summer to form a veritable "Super Team" in South Beach.

I had a chance to catch up with Chris at the unveiling of his very own Got Milk? ad.

Well, to be fair, he did share the spotlight with Mainard, a 10-foot-tall giraffe who joins him in the advertisements and even made a live appearance at the event.

Read on to see what CB4 had to say about his new team, his old team, playing the All-Star game, and of course, milk.

Chris Bosh on Having His Own Got Milk? Ad

What’s it like for you now that you’ve got your own Got Milk? Ad, with a live giraffe no less? 

Chris: It’s really cool. I was just telling people earlier that I’ve seen so many big names be a part of Got Milk? Ads and just to be a part of that family is really cool. Just to see the ads in the magazines, on billboards and stuff. It’s kind of like a dream come true for me because I’ve been seeing them since I was a kid, and we used to joke around like “I’m going to do milk one day!,” and now, it’s really happening; so it’s very cool.

Chris on Once Again Being an All-Star

How does it feel to now be among the league’s elite, most popular players, with this being your sixth All-Star selection, after spending some relatively anonymous years in Toronto? 

Chris: I mean, it’s a sense of accomplishment, but it’s also a sense of work as well. You know, I know that I have a long way to go, and I have a lot more work to do.  I don’t feel that I’m entitled to anything. I don’t feel like “I’m here and that’s it.” You know, I’ve arrived, and I have a lot more work to do, and there are so many other things that can be done. I just want to be successful and continue to keep my head on straight and stay the same person I’ve been.

Chris on His Return to Toronto

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TORONTO, CANADA - FEBRUARY 16: Chris Bosh #1 of the Miami Heat reacts to a big slam in a game against the Toronto Raptors on February 16, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. The Heat defeated the Raptors 103-95. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Get

How was your first trip back to Toronto with your new team? 

Chris: It was an experience. It was kind of bittersweet. It was sweet to come back, but it was weird just seeing everything so very differently. You know, coming in from the visitor’s side and going into the visitor’s locker room and everything, and it was a little bitter just to hear some of the reactions. But, at the end of the day, I had a great time. We handled our business, and I got to see some old friends while I was there.

CB4 on Playing with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade

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WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 18: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat celebrates with Dwyane Wade #3 and Chris Bosh #1 after a 95-94 victory over the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center on December 18, 2010 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly ackn

What’s the experience been like playing with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade every day? How have you adjusted your game since teaming up with them? 

Chris: It’s been an experience. You know, those are two great guys, and just to play with those guys, to see their greatness is really cool. It makes me happy that we made this decision to all go to Miami. You see their work ethic and what they do and the jokes that they tell, and now, we’re at a point where it’s just natural; it’s cool. This is our team, and I’m so proud of our team and what we can accomplish and just our potential that we have and the greatness that everybody wants to obtain. It’s very cool.

Bosh on the Miami Heat

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BOSTON - FEBRUARY 13: Chris Bosh #1 of the Miami Heat goes to the basket against Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 13, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading

Would you put the Heat, as currently constituted among the league’s elite? You guys have had some issues against the best teams in the league. 

Chris: Yeah, absolutely, but everybody has issues with the best teams in the league. I think if you look at the Lakers, the Celtics and the Heat, if we’re not in the elite, I don’t know who is. I think our record speaks for itself. We’ve beaten the teams that we’ve needed to beat, and we know we have a lot of tough games coming up. Our second half is very tough, and we’re looking forward to it.

Chris Bosh on the Second Half of the Season

What are your expectations for the second half? 

Chris: We’re looking forward to chasing down that No. 1 seed. You know, it’s not going to be easy, but we have it in our sights. We have to set that goal in our minds first. We just have to hit the ground running when it’s time. We have some momentum now; we just have to keep it.