Heat raise Chris Bosh's No 1 jersey to the rafters

The Heat also presented Bosh with a $50,000 gift for his foundation and a one-of-a-kind guitar designed by his friend Rey Jeffet Jr And in his remarks, Bosh detailed how much his first health scare in 2015 — caused by a blood clot, just like how his career ultimately ended in 2016 — was ultimately aided by Heat fans.

The team sent thousands of get-well cards from fans to Bosh's home. He read them all.

"Those letters pushed me to get back on this court," Bosh said. "Those letters inspired me to get back up and walk across the room when I didn't think I had the energy to do it."

For a time, he and the Heat were estranged. Bosh wanted to keep playing. The Heat didn't feel his health issues would allow that. Eventually, the sides reached an understanding and then they finally began talking again.

Now he's back in the Heat family, forever.

"I feel like I can officially, officially, officially move on," Bosh said. "It all happened really fast, but we're here. I'm so happy. And we get to move on into the next life together."

AP