Chris Bosh has helped the Raptors move into position for their first winning season since 2001-02. Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images

You didn't hear Bosh complaining last summer when his playing time was limited at the FIBA World Championships, where USA Basketball finished third. "It was tough, but I know that sacrifices have to be made to play with good teams,'' says Bosh, who dwelled on the complementary phases of his game. "It helped me to understand how to pass the ball a lot better. We think about leaders all the time, and we usually think about somebody who is going to score every time down and take all the shots. But in actuality it's about finding the open guys, making it easier for them and demanding the best out of them.''

There persists throughout the league doubts about Bosh's leadership, and it's mainly because he is quiet and humble. This is where a lot of people get it wrong. They look up to loudmouths and blowhards and are tricked into mistaking that for leadership. Bosh isn't quiet because he's weak. It's because he's listening, observing. His strengths are improving.

"The stereotype of a leader is one who talks and peps people up and things like that,'' says Bosh, "but in actuality you have to listen to your teammates. You have to know what they like, you have to know their tendencies, and the only way you do that is by observing what they do, and listening to them and seeing what kind of person they are. If you're just talking the whole time, you may say some things in ways that they may not like. And you may not get along. It's very important to listen first and then react based off what you heard.''

Team president Bryan Colangelo was introduced to Bosh's observant leadership during a November loss at Golden State, when Bosh yelled at Bargnani for ceding three straight offensive rebounds to Andris Biedrins.

"He embarrassed the kid a little bit, because [Bosh] was so angry and frustrated,'' says Colangelo. "But then Chris coming out of the timeout clearly had an interchange with him, and it was somewhat apologetic and also reinforcing that 'I'm trying to help you.' The fact that he would have the sense to go back and smooth it over with the kid is a simple thing, but it's not something that a lot of people would do. You've got to be demanding, but you've also got to be somewhat sensitive when you're a leader. You've got to understand people's positions, their sensitivities and feelings.''

But the muscle of Bosh's leadership lies in his hard work. "When your best player is your hardest-working guy -- I used to say this about [Steve] Nash in Phoenix -- it sets the tone,'' says Colangelo. "I don't think anyone outworks Chris.''

It wasn't so surprising that Bosh was voted an All-Star starter by the Toronto fans. There used to be a lot of talk among Canadians of how badly they needed Vince Carter as a star to carry the franchise. While Carter is the more talented player, he will never be the leader that Bosh is becoming. The vote for Bosh was an endorsement of his style and impact on the franchise.

Does Bosh now see himself on equal footing with his fellow 2003 draft picks in No. 1 LeBron James, No. 3 Carmelo Anthony and No. 5 Dwyane Wade? "I don't try to prove that I'm on their level or anything like that,'' says Bosh, who was the No. 4 pick of that famous draft. "I'm just trying to win basketball games. Once I know that we're good and I continue to do things that I'm doing, all of that will take care of itself.

"I think I have a bigger challenge. Those guys were on teams that improved very quickly. Me, I've been working for a little while here. But I'm trying to win in an organization where people didn't really think about winning that much. People ask me why did I sign here, or why come back when I can go somewhere else? I took the challenge here. Yeah, we weren't that good when I got here, but we're going to be good while I'm here.''