‘Spreading positivity’ is a tall, necessary order, says Chris Bosh

Chris Bosh, the 6-foot-11-inch big man who won the NBA Finals in 2013 was an integral part of the Miami Heat’s famed Big Three (with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.) Even though Bosh was often considered one of the Heat’s best players, a debilitating blood clot condition kept the Dallas-born center away from the court. Bosh attended the Kids Choice Sports Awards in Los Angeles last week, where he commented on the sobering speeches given by his former teammates and friends (James, Wade, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony) at this year’s ESPYS.

I was surprised to see LeBron and those guys on the stage. I didn’t know what to expect, and I think that’s a great thing. First of all, guys coming together for the good of things, that’s always a great thing. Spreading positivity, even in an uncomfortable situation like what’s going on in the country now, it’s a conversation that has to be had. I know those guys, and I commend them for having the courage to say what they did. I also know them well enough to know that no one else but them came up with the idea. It was them.

We need to listen to the young people first. We need to listen to the victims and their families. And we have to listen to the police, who are sworn to protect us. Of course there needs to be a conversation, but it has to be a true conversation where both sides are there to be heard. This is a big issue in our country, and now we can start to talk about things. Maybe thanks to those guys [James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony], we as athletes can make a difference, too. And we all work together in so many other ways, so it’s only natural that I’d work with my friends on whatever they want me to do. This is bigger than basketball, bigger than sports.