Chris Bosh Wants to Retire from NBA When He's 36

Chris Bosh has announced his retirement from the NBA six years in advance. Apparently.

Heading into the Miami Heat's Thursday night bout against the San Antonio Spurs, the topic of Bosh's retirement was somehow broached. ESPN's Michael Wallace notes that The Boshstrich offered the following response:

Well, that was weird, mostly because the 29-year-old Bosh is talking about retirement at all. How was that subject even brought up?

Bleacher Report's Ethan Skolnick provided further clarification:

Ah yes, Tim Duncan and the Spurs.

Conversations always turn profound and introspective when they're in play. Despite proving that age, consistency and predictability are the new sexy, San Antonio is the geezer in the room that makes everyone start questioning their own mortality. 

Last time I checked, longevity and sustained dominance were good things. Does Bosh not want that?

According to Skolnick, not as much as he wants to spend time with his family:

So that's what "other things" meant.

Though it makes sense, I was personally hoping Bosh had plans to pursue a career as a professional videobomber or facial contortionist upon retiring. I refuse to let that hope die, just like we should all refuse to take Bosh's most recent sentiments as fact. 

Boshasaurus is hardly the first player to entertain "early" retirement for the sake of his family. Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers has previously indicated that he plans on walking away at a semi-young age too.

"Nobody loves to play basketball more than I do, but I could honestly see myself maybe stopping a little earlier or maybe premature just because I hate to miss anything with my kids," he told Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel this past October. "I would hate for my kids to, you know, recall those special moments in their life and I wasn't there."

Put in that context, early retirement is understandable. At the same time, there are likely plenty of players who have considered doing the same before changing their minds.

Actually walking away from something you love, from something that has made you famous, is far more difficult than merely thinking about it. When Bosh turns 36, more than a half-decade from now, he could have a change of heart and decide to keep playing. The same goes for Paul.

To Bosh's credit, walking away could be easier for him than most. He's claimed two NBA championships and is currently working on a third, all before his 30th birthday.

If LeBron James stays in Miami and the Big Three lives on, Bosh could be outfitted in three-plus championship rings by the time 36 rolls around.

Issac Baldizon/Getty Images

This is also Bosh we're talking about. He's always danced and videobombed to the beat of his own jagged, scarcely rhythmic tune. If there's anyone prepared to traverse the path toward unconventional retirement, it's him.

That puts us on "Bosh Watch" for the next half-decade or so. The self-imposed clock is ticking on his career. Slowly, but it's still ticking. 

Enjoy Bosh for what he does and who he is now, lest you find yourself shedding tears over videobombs and facial expressions that never were six years down the line.