The Miami Heat have been chasing a ring since LeBron James left the franchise to return to Cleveland in 2014. They have reached the NBA Finals on two occasions in the Jimmy Butler era but came up short both times.

NBA fans around the world fondly remember the days of LeBron and Dwyane Wade teaming in Miami. But it often feels like Chris Bosh does not get the credit that he deserves for what he brought to the game of basketball and how he revolutionized the league.

Philadelphia 76ers star, Paul George, believes that the Heat’s strategic decision to play Bosh at center fundamentally shifted the NBA. This adjustment forced the league to reconsider the traditional roles of big men, moving away from the era of bruising centers to a more versatile, floor-spacing approach.

While speaking on Podcast P, George said: “When we played Miami and they put Chris Bosh at the five, I think that’s when the league literally changed.

“Cause we were one of the last teams to be like two bigs, two like real bigs. David West and Roy Hibbert. Not three-point shooters, mid-range shooters. Defensively, Miami struggled against that until they moved Chris Bosh at the five and they played four wings, and then that was how you beat the Pacers. Like that was the blueprint to beat the Pacers at that time.”

The Pacers’ reliance on traditional bigs like West and Hibbert couldn’t keep pace with Miami once they employed Bosh’s shooting ability from deep to stretch the floor. This move paved the way for the modern trend of bigs who can shoot from outside, making it harder for the opposition to defend both the paint and the perimeter.

Bosh’s transformation into a 3-point shooter became vital for Miami’s success. He averaged more than one 3-point attempt per game during his last four seasons with the Heat and shot 36.5% from beyond the arc in his final year. This evolution in his game opened the door for the type of bigs we see in today’s NBA.

Boston Celtics’ 2024 title run is a prime example of the importance of having big men who can stretch the floor.

Veterans like Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis contributed to their success with their shooting from deep, highlighting just how essential this strategy has become in the modern NBA.

Yet, Bosh is not a name that gets brought up often when you talk about players who have changed the game of basketball forever.