A calf injury will prevent Chris Bosh from playing in his 11th NBA All-Star game and open the door for Al Horford to attempt to shine, instead.
Horford will replace Bosh on the NBA’s Eastern Conference team, Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday.
Bosh has played all 53 of the Miami Heat’s games this season, but he announced Friday he’ll sit out both the All-Star Game and the 3-point contest in order to “heal” from an injury, which hadn’t been reported publicly.
“I am honored to be selected to participate in All-Star Weekend festivities & will still be here to support my fellow East All-Stars,” Bosh said in a statement, according to ESPN. “But I will also use this weekend to try to heal and focus on the second half of the HEAT season.”
USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt revealed Bosh’s ailment on Twitter.
Bosh joins Jimmy Butler among the ranks of injury-related All-Star Game absentees.
Horford now is set to appear in the All-Star Game for the fourth time in his career.
Hopefully, Horford will enjoy the weekend festivities and not worry too much about the rampant speculation over his future, as Thursday’s NBA trade deadline approaches.
Thumbnail photo via Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports Images
