NBA legend breaks his silence after being dragged into Palisades arson probe over $11m California mansion
NBA legend Chris Bosh has spoken out after being dragged into the Palisades arson probe after his $11m mansion was linked to potential evidence regarding the case.
On Friday, it was revealed by the New York Post that the former NBA star’s home was now at the center of a disputed piece of evidence in the federal arson case against Jonathan Rinderknecht.
The outlet claims that attorneys representing Rinderknecht, who has been accused of starting the fire that led to the devastation in January 2025, suggest that fireworks could have been launched from Bosh’s property near the area where the fire began.
Speaking out on the matter on Saturday, Bosh wrote on X: ‘We were not in Pacific Palisades on New Year’s Eve 2024 or New Year’s Day 2025. We were at our residence in Austin, Texas.
‘To our knowledge, our Pacific Palisades property was unoccupied and was not being rented or used by guests during that time.
‘We have assisted the appropriate authorities by providing security footage in our possession and relevant information available to us.
NBA legend Chris Bosh was dragged into the Palisades arson case after an $11 million mansion owned by him was linked to potential evidence regarding the disaster
Firefighters battle the deadly Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon on January 11, 2025
‘We recognize the seriousness of this tragic event and have supported the authorities in their efforts to establish the facts.’
Rinderknecht’s defense is seeking to introduce a testimony from retired Cal Fire investigator Michael T Cole, according to court documents obtained by the outlet.
According to the outlet, his attorney said: ‘Mr. Cole is expected to testify that during his 2025 investigation of the Palisades Fire he observed and documented a mark and an associated burn and smoke trail on the driveway and rear patio area of the residence at (redacted), and that, based on his training and experience, those marks are physical evidence of a launched firework.’
Prosecutors have since fired back at the request to have Cole testify, disqualifying him as a witness and stating he has ‘zero qualifications’ to make his judgments.
‘His entire ‘expert’ opinion is based on six drone photographs of a brown stain on the driveway taken in either February 2025 or 2026.
‘No up-close in-person inspection, no other testing. Six drone photographs, that’s it,’ prosecutors said in court documents obtained by the Post.
Prosecutors also claimed that they were not properly informed about Cole’s existence and allege that the defense delayed the release of information about him.
A fire fighting helicopter drops water as the Palisades fire grows near the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood and Encino, California, on January 11, 2025
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, pleaded not guilty to the three charges relating to the Palisades fire – one count of destruction of property by means of fire, one of arson affecting property, and one of timber set afire
Rinderknecht has remained in federal custody since being arrested on charges of starting the deadly blaze on October 7, 2025. Investigators allegedly found a lighter in his vehicle during a search on January 24, 2025.
Rinderknecht has pleaded not guilty to starting what became one of the most destructive wildfires in California history.
Prosecutors alleged that Rinderknecht started a fire on January 1 2025, that burned undetected deep in root systems before flaring back up January 7.
The Palisades Fire ultimately killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes as it incinerated hillside neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades and the city of Malibu.
