Is Chris Bosh A Superstar?
Over the weekend, we asked whether Joe Johnson, one of the most dangerous scorers in the NBA today, is a legit superstar. I said that Joe Jeezy wasn’t in that class quite yet, but he would be by the end of the season. But my list of LeBron, Kobe, Duncan, Wade, KG, Dwight, Pierce, AI, Dirk, Nash, and CP3 might be missing a couple of names. Here’s one that deserves a look: Chris Bosh.
After a gritty performance in Beijing, CB4’s star definitely rose to another level. And since returning to North America, Bosh has continued to impress, making J.O. look like a real sidekick next to him for the first time in his career. His 26.7-point, 11-board average has solidified his status as one of the three biggest names in the 2010 free agent market with LeBron and Dwyane Wade. Add in that the Pistons are rumored to be pinpointing Bosh as the guy that they want. There’s some speculation that he’s part of the reason that Joe Dumars pulled the trigger on the Iverson deal.
But even if Bosh leads Toronto into the playoffs on a ridiculous year, is that enough to call him a superstar? It’s tough to make that jump from the other side of the Northern border, but it has been done before. Vince Carter’s star exploded after winning the ‘00 dunk contest in a Raptors uniform…
Is Chris Bosh a superstar?
November 10th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
MSkittle says:
For sure. Dude is saving my fantasy team by himself
November 10th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Mr. K1X says:
hell yeah he is!! keep in mind that little dudes come and go. he ia legit force. if hee gets in the right market and stays healthy he is going to be a household name.
cp3 cant get a ring without a big, big men get rings every year without a cp3 be cause last time i checked he has no rings
November 10th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Rapsfan says:
Not until he gets his team to the East Finals minimum.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Dime Magazine says:
Bosh is nice, but are you really going to put him in the same class as guys like LeBron and Kobe??
November 10th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
itsakademiks says:
vince won the 04 dunk contest??? u guys sure about that….
November 10th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
JDigiac says:
Bosh= Superstar if Vince was one. Winning the dunk contest doesn’t compare to winning a gold, averaging a double-double and taking your team to the playoffs year in and year out.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
ampli2de says:
Bosh is a much better player than Vince ever was. When Vince was playing, T-Mac was providing the intangibles and was carrying the team defensively. If anyone other than us canucks watched the Charlotte game last night, CB4 decided in the third quarter that he’s going to put the team on his back (offensively and defensively) and win the game. He may not have the flash or athleticism of Kobe, but at his height he has more than enough of it to dominate any other power forward in the league other than KG. Honestly, other than KG, is there a better PF in the league ?
November 10th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Dime Magazine says:
itsakademiks – good find, my bad.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
TomGfromBrampton says:
Bosh i definitely a superstar/all star and will be as long as he stays healthy.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Top_Gun says:
Superstar for sure, he surpassed Carmelo as one of the best players from the 03′ draft. I remember when Phil Jackson said he wanted him in LA and got a fine. Didn’t know about Dumars wanting him, but he’s also in my fantasy team and his numbers have been consistent.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Bone says:
@ Rapsfan – If that is your logic, then Dwight Howard and CP3 aren’t superstars since they have never been to the Conference Finals. Do you believe that?
The way I define a superstar is this: Can you win a championship if he is your best player?
In this case, I think the answer is most assuredly yes. Remember, Bosh is only 24 and would only be in his second year in the League had he been a four year college player. He is not even close to his ceiling yet.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
blah says:
whatever. as long as carmelo anthony isn’t in that class i’m cool. Carmelo doesn’t even deserve a nickname, garbage ass bum.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
P_Dizzle says:
Star definitely
Superstar ummmm…. not yet!
After the Olympics, I thought he solidified himself as a Star, but not a Superstar. Superstar is not some title to throw around loosely. Wade, Kobe, Lebron, KG those guys are Superstars, I just can’t call Bosh a Superstar yet.
Everyone is crowning someone the next (__ fill in the blank) every season and so we lose some of the luster of what a word means. Superstar is definitely fighting for it’s credibility after the likes of Vinsanity, Starbury, “Baby Jordan” Harold Miner and other premature taggings. So let’s hold off on calling Bosh a Superstar and leave him at a Star for now.
Like some others mentioned, if he takes his team to the Eastern Finals and just has a monster year, then we can CONSIDER it, but for now he’s just a Star!
November 10th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
The Real Tyrone says:
Ain’t no doubt that Dime’s losin’ their head y’all. Joe Johnson’s a nasty ball forsure, but he ain’t no superstar. Cat’s a volume scorer who ain’t real efficient. Bosh however gots it all – he got ability to get mad buckets and drop ‘n dish dope dimes.
True thugs never lie.
Tyrone
November 10th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Kevin says:
Is there even a question anymore?
Dude will be top five for MVP!
November 10th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Kermit the Washington says:
If he’s not considered a superstar now, he will become one when Detroit signs him. Yessir!
November 10th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Big Sia says:
FUCK NO………
November 10th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Kermit the Washington says:
And I feel like you can be a superstar and not be a “Great Player”. Like the “Greats” in the league today are a short list. CP, Kobe, Bron, DWade up until recently, Shaq on reputation lol, maybe a few more. But “Superstars”, you can add TMac, Vince, players like that. And I feel what Bone was saying, the stupid Conference Finals” requirement from RapsFan didn’t make sense, but you can’t go by your criteria either, ’cause then what about Shawn Kemp? He wasn’t the best player on his Finals team. But DEFINITELY a superstar in his day.
My criteria would be if you are a household name among casual NBA fans. And Chris Bosh is getting there.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Dagomar says:
Bosh used to be such a well-kept secret in TO, now that he’s getting tons of attention I’m not sure I like it. But he’s definitely a top 3 or top 4 big man in the NBA. Superstar implies popularity and I don’t think Bosh can compete with a Bron or Kobe in that regard – and I don’t think, of course, that he’s as good a player as those two – but he’s young as hell, and his ceiling is still insanely high. So a superstar? Not yet, but he’s certainly one of the ten best players in the game right now.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Big Sia says:
Softest, most unclutch, and just plain faggoty “stars” in the league.
Just ask the only Jewish guy in the league…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te4N29ESprM
Oh.. and J smoove
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArBGyJMw_Bw
November 10th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Dime Magazine says:
There’s no question that Kemp was a superstar in his day – not only because he put up numbers, but because of the way that he did it.
Bosh will put up the same type of numbers, but he’s doing it in a completely different way – not much fury, not much flair. The less he’s on SportsCenter, the harder it is to be a legit superstar.
- AK
November 10th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
dukesman2000 says:
No
November 10th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
blah says:
BTW i don’t think CP3 qualifies as a superstar either. I’m not even completely sure he’s a star yet. I mean dude had one GREAT season- is that all you need? I admit he can be great, but to be great he has to do it in more than one season. I’d say he’s “well on his way”.
This much is an unfortunate fact: To be a superstar, you have to do more than just play great basketball. You have to be recognizable, by name if not by face. Chris Bosh got a lil closer with that all star video vote thing he did last year, and like someone said above, sportscenter can help alot as well. If you’re only recognized by hoop heads, you are not a superstar, your ceiling is “star” until non-hoops fans know you. Ditto for chris paul.
November 10th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Dennis Castro says:
Bosh is knocking on that door, moreso than JJ. I never understood why people view him as SO much lower than Lebron, Wade, and Carmelo. I mean he’s 20/10 guaranteed, led his team to the playoffs 2 years in a row, has range out to 20ft and is crafty with the left hand.
I think if he were on another team, he’d definitely get more shine, unfortunately.
November 10th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Ree says:
geez people are always quick naming the next one a superstar. then after several years of playoff failures or so-so seasons, even though their game hasn’t gone down, they say he should the no. 2 star on the team (see: garnett, carter, nowitzki, …)
November 10th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
nick says:
if bosh played in the usa he would have been claimed a superstar 2 yrs ago. raps get no national tv games so its hard for a lot of fans to see him.
November 10th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
bigdoggchad says:
So Pierce is a superstar now? So win a chip with 2 other All-Stars makes you a superstar? So Melo has to win a chip with 2 other All-Stars to be a superstar? So making the playoffs every year in the West isn’t enough? You guys forget every year he lost one or more of the starters for the year or a big chunk of the season and still made the playoffs. Every year they face the western conference champ in the first round. I say he is a superstar if Bosh is and definetly a superstar if Pierce is!
November 10th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Ian says:
NOOOOO what the hell is going on everyone is a superstar now.
someone said bosh is better than vince ever was hell no man.
now kermit has it right about being a superstar and not being great as i posted on the joe johnson article only duncan kobe lebron and shaq (career wise) are there.
my superstar group includes
players like kg dirk parker deron paul
d.howard is not a superstar.
u need to go deep in the playoffs to be a superstar for sure.
November 10th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
bigdoggchad says:
Totally agree with Dwight not being a Superstar yet. Win a dunk contest and now your a superstar. He isn’t even the go to player on his team in crunch time. SVG would go to Rashard or Hedo before Dwight.
November 10th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Ian says:
bigdogg melo is no superstar
and comon he won with 2 allstars but then u have to include kevin garnett in the non superstar group cuz he could barely make the playoffs.
kg was just like pierce this season so u cant base your post on that of course i dont think kg is a superstar then its ok.
November 10th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Ian says:
bigdogg i was talking about pierce from the second line on.
November 10th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Ian says:
and i made an error when i said on the last line “course i dont think” it was supposed to say “course you dont think”
November 10th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Haqq says:
Those youtube videos dont prove shit… I can post up videos showcasing some of the dumbest shit from all the superstats DIME has stated.
Buddy, shit happens. But that doesnt stop a force, the force being Bosh!
BOSH = SUPERSTAR
November 10th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
What has Bosh done to qualify as “Superstar” he might be a star. KG isn’t a superstar, crunch time comes and for like 12 years all dude did was be passive, I think Bosh is in the same category. He’s going to need 2 more stars to win the whole thing.
November 10th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
parinaz suns says:
those who think hes a superstar are delusional
November 10th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Magnifico says:
bosh is knocking hard on that door. assuming his team stays healthy, they are going to be contenders. he’s not on the LBJ level but at least he’s improving his worth in the league.
The thing about Bosh is that he is very solid, consistent to a fault. He doesn’t wow you with a 50pts and 20rebs game. He just goes for his 20pts 10rebs night in night out. That’s good enough for me to call him a star.
November 10th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
QuEsT??? says:
no, and im not even sure cp3 is a superstar, to me a superstar is a guy that can change that came, but that also impacts the culture of the nba, u get what im saying?
November 10th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
QuEsT??? says:
game*
November 10th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
crespo says:
All i know is all the talk about bosh being a superstar must end now. KG destroyed him tonight, he couldnt even get the ball come crunch time or whenever KG decided to, so thats over
November 10th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Ian says:
drink
this is the first time ever that i think we agree
i think the same about kg
November 10th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Celts Fan says:
Yes, he’s not in the top-tier, HOF lock, class of superstar, but he’s shooting up the ladder. Imagine how much better he’d look next to Brandon Roy or Danny Granger like he should be if the Raps knew how to draft…
November 10th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Celts Fan says:
@Quest – “to me a superstar is a guy that can change that came, but that also impacts the culture of the nba,”
HOw does CP3 not fit that?
November 11th, 2008 at 12:15 am
QuEsT??? says:
@ celts i believe cp3 will eventually get there, but he is still relatively new after two more years of his dominance he will reach superstar status, and eventually will be super big, he is not an icon/movement such as guys like kobe lebron AI etc.
November 11th, 2008 at 12:37 am
johnsacrimoni says:
The real question is, what is a superstar? Is it based solely on talent? Accomplishments? Playoff success? Respect from peers? Media adoration? I think it’s a combination of the first three, I could give a shit less who the top sportswriters have man-crushes on. I think the list has to be: Duncan, KG, Kobe, LeBron, Nash, Dirk, Kidd, Shaq. The reason these guys make the list is the three factors I mentioned plus sustained excellence; doing it over the course of several years. (LeBron being the exception, kind of like MJ circa ‘88) The very next list down would be CP3, Dwight, Amare, Deron, Parker, Pierce, maybe Bosh and JJ.
November 11th, 2008 at 12:37 am
johnsacrimoni says:
Sorry, forgot D-Wade.
November 11th, 2008 at 12:46 am
Dave says:
Yes, he’s an All-NBA level player.
November 11th, 2008 at 12:51 am
johnsacrimoni says:
and AI
November 11th, 2008 at 2:25 am
de says:
“Bosh= Superstar if Vince was one. Winning the dunk contest doesn’t compare to winning a gold, averaging a double-double and taking your team to the playoffs year in and year out.”
Vince won the gold, being AT LEAST top 2 player on 2000 team(unlike bosh), he’s averaged arond 25-5-5 that years(this is as respectable for swingman as DD for big man) and took Raps to the playoffs year in and year out(he even was one shot away from going to ECF, unlike 1-st round out Bosh.)
November 12th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
ThisGuy says:
^^ Yes but what has Vince done since? He is no longer that same player, and cannot carry a team to the playoffs without considerable support. It can be argued that he is now better suited as a support player than the star himself. Thus, Vince WAS a superstar, but sure aint one now.
Bosh is a borderline superstar. Not quite there yet, but ready to take that next step. The combination of team USA presence and his Youtube videos (plus he was a Jay Leno correspondent) help his popularity. And his game is starting to reach where we all hoped it to be. He also puts his team on his back at the end of games and is probably the best leader of his draft classs (no knock on Lebron or Wade).
Just hoping he sticks in T.O. for many years.
November 13th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Spectrum says:
4 Sure he is. If he was playing somewhere other then Toronto, he would be getting a lot more attention then he’s getting right now.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:05 am
sina says:
MSkittle says:
For sure. Dude is saving my fantasy team by himself
lol same for me.
night in and night out, he is single handedly carrying the raptors, playing 42 mins a game and hustling until his last breath. his offensive game is arguably the best out of all big men in the league now. he has had nights where everyone is doing crap and he lifts the team to a win literally single handedy or even if they lose, it’s cause of him that the wasn’t a blowout (except for that game in boston, fatigue got to him and he kept giving the ball to JO). 40 points, 18 boards; 27 points, 11 boards; 31 points, 9 boards, 26 points, 13 boards; 30 points, 15 boards; 30 points, 12 boards; 26 points, 8 boards. those are all while averaging 55% FG, 80% from the FT line, and playing the second most minutes in the NBA! he is a solid defender, runs the floor like a deer, explosive, no big man in the LEAGUE is putting the numbers he is putting up (especially with that efficiency), a great passer, a great shot blocker, is sooo wet (that mid range jumper is his bread and butter). he messes up dwight howard everytime orlando plays Toronto, he has had like 3 40 point games against dwight in the last few times they played together (yesterday, bosh got dwight fouled out and he had like 18 points and 9 boards while bosh had 40 and 18 boards on 14 of 19 shooting).
what is a superstar, someone who almost single handedly carries a good or decent team on their shoulders every game and the team would just fall apart without him and suck (everytime bosh gets injured, toronto loses almost all their games; like 2-9 last year for his injury period), a player who never gives up on a game and always hustles, drops the numbers bosh does (even less), brings the attitude and heart brings, etc.
Bosh does all those things and playing better than every big man in the league right now and is top 5 in MVP rankings in the NBA.
If Bosh isn’t a superstar, than I don’t know who is one.
November 27th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Rorbot says:
People who don’t acknowledge Bosh as a superstar just haven’t seen him play enough yet.
Best BIG in the league.
Certainly Top 5 in the league. Only Kobe, Lebron, KG, D-wade are on his level or better.
December 5th, 2008 at 1:23 am
raptors_suck says:
bosh is garbage, to those ppl that actually watch raptor games, you can see how he’s soft and weak, he disappears in important parts of games (against good teams) Sometimes any team can clamp down and make him a complete non factor. It’s the ppl who simply have him on their fantasy teams and see the occasional highlights that think he’s the real deal, he’s not…