Before signing his five-year, $118 million contract to return with the Miami Heat, Chris Bosh says he was "close" to leaving the team that he won two NBA championships with.

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Bosh spoke on “The Zaslow and Joy Show" on FM 104.3 The Ticket in Miami and said that the situation wasn’t ideal and he was really close to leaving the Heat.

"It was close. I'm not going to lie," Bosh said "It was close. It was a weird situation because we were waiting so long and I didn't know what was going on.

"I think you're always in a situation where it is close even if you don't leave because teams got very aggressive on me. And I guess as soon as LeBron made up his mind, that's when everything could fall in line. But I was just waiting, so I didn't know what was going on.”

Bosh was heavily recruited by the Houston Rockets, but ended up signing with the Heat a day after LeBron James made his decision to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Bosh received a max contract after James left for Cleveland and wouldn't have been able to receive the same deal had LeBron stayed in Miami.

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Bosh said he learned of James’ decision just like everyone else, but admitted that the longer to dragged on the more unlikely his return to Miami would be.

"The longer it dragged out, the more I figured this could happen," Bosh said. "When it happened, of course I was surprised and shocked and everything. But after a while, I can understand. I can't say I'm surprised, but you just move on. It got me excited for the next chapter.”

Bosh and teammate Dwyane Wade both returned to the Heat after opting out of their former max contracts.

[ESPN]

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