{"id":603288,"date":"2026-02-14T19:50:58","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T19:50:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/603288\/"},"modified":"2026-02-14T19:50:58","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T19:50:58","slug":"chris-bosh-says-goran-dragic-injury-altered-miamis-2020-nba-finals-series-vs-lakers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/603288\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Bosh says Goran Dragic injury altered Miami’s 2020 NBA Finals series vs. Lakers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chris Bosh<\/a> said Goran Dragic<\/a>\u2019s injury during the 2020 NBA Finals significantly impacted<\/a> the Miami Heat\u2019s series against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Speaking on the latest episode of the All the Smoke podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, the Hall of Famer reflected on Dragic\u2019s plantar fascia tear suffered in Game 1 of the Finals<\/a> inside the NBA\u2019s Orlando bubble.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe toughest part was watching the Heat deal with injuries. Seeing my man Goran Dragic finally get there and not be able to play. That broke my heart man. Not to say they win, but it would definitely have been a different series if he plays. Just to be able to play in the finals, I don\u2019t care where they\u2019re playing \u2014 if it\u2019s the finals and the NBA, that\u2019s a dream come true. For him not to have that full experience, that was tough. With that said, they still went out there and fought. I know what the message was definitely on both sides but specifically for the Heat,\u201d Bosh said.<\/p>\n

Bosh continued:<\/p>\n

\u201cI know a lot of people were writing them off and really not paying much attention to them but you know, when you get there, you don\u2019t get there just to lose. You don\u2019t get there to say, \u2018ah, well good season.\u2019 I knew for sure they were going to prepare, they were going to fight until the last man standing and you were going to have to beat those guys. And it happened, but pain is pain. I know they\u2019ll be able to get over it and it will make them a better team and to the Lakers, man one down. Let\u2019s see if they can keep it going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dragic entered the Finals as Miami\u2019s second-leading scorer<\/a> in the 2020 postseason behind Jimmy Butler III. Across 17 playoff games, he averaged 19.1 points, 4.4 assists, 4.1 rebounds and one steal while shooting 44% from the field and 34.6% from 3-point range in 32.5 minutes per contest.<\/p>\n

Chris Bosh believes if Goran Dragic doesn\u2019t get hurt in the 2020 NBA finals, it would\u2019ve been a different series:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe toughest part was watching the Heat deal with injuries. Seeing my man Goran Dragic finally get there and not be able to play. That broke my heart man. Not to\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/5UKntMUerb<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/1bOzN5UWJc<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) February 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Chris Bosh says Goran Dragic\u2019s injury changed Heat\u2019s Finals fate vs. Lakers\"Miami\u00a9 Kim Klement-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The injury limited Dragic to just two brief appearances late in the series. Miami ultimately fell to the Lakers in six games as James secured his fourth NBA championship and fourth Finals MVP.<\/p>\n

Despite the setback, the Heat remained competitive throughout the series, highlighted by Butler\u2019s 40-point triple-double in Game 3 and a 35-point performance in Game 5 to force a sixth game.<\/p>\n

Miami later returned to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2022, losing in seven games to the Boston Celtics. The franchise made another Finals appearance in 2023 but fell to the Denver Nuggets<\/a> in five games. Dragic was traded to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Kyle Lowry<\/a> as the Heat reshaped their roster around Butler, Tyler Herro, and Bam Adebayo.<\/p>\n

With the Butler-led era now concluded, Miami enters All-Star weekend at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles with a 29-27 record, sitting eighth in the Eastern Conference standings. The Heat have advanced past the play-in tournament in each of the past three seasons and remain in contention for another postseason berth this spring.<\/p>\n

Bosh\u2019s comments provided perspective on how injuries, particularly Dragic\u2019s, shaped Miami\u2019s chances against James and the Lakers during the unique bubble Finals.<\/p>\n