Miami Heat
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| Miami Heat | |
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| Conference | Eastern Conference |
| Division | Southeast Division |
| Founded | 1988 |
| History | Miami Heat (1988–present) |
| Arena | American Airlines Arena |
| City | Miami, Florida |
| Team colors | Black, Red, White, Orange
General Manager = Pat Riley |
| Owner(s) | {{{owner}}} |
| General manager | {{{General Manager}}} |
| Head coach | {{{coach}}} |
| D-League affiliate | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
| Championships | 1 (2006) |
| Conference titles | 1 (2006) |
| Division titles | 7 (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007) |
| Official website | heat.com |
The Miami Heat are a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). They play their home games at American Airlines Arena. The team is owned by Micky Arison, coached by Erik Spoelstra and are managed by Basketball Hall of Fame coach Pat Riley.
The Heat were formed in 1988 as an expansion franchise along with the Charlotte Hornets. Since then, Miami has fielded squads that have made the playoffs 13 out of the 21 seasons, captured seven division titles and won the 2006 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks 4–2.
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[edit] Franchise history
The Heat were founded in 1988 during major NBA expansion. Although the inaugural team lost their first 17 games, they "rebounded" and finished 15–67. In the 1989 NBA Draft, the Heat selected Glen Rice with the fourth pick. He would take them to their first playoff appearances in 1992 against the Chicago Bulls, and 1994 when they took the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks to a then-full 5 games. Miami experienced new heights during the mid 90s with the hiring of Pat Riley, an executive and coach who had reinvigorated several franchises on his way to South Beach. He orchestrated a deal that sent Rice to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for center Alonzo Mourning. Tim Hardaway came aboard the following year and the Heat begun a streak that saw them reach the postseason a franchise record six straight times and win four divisions titles. Those years were also marked with clashes with the Bulls and the New York Knicks, who eliminated them three straight years.
Miami dwindled in the early 2000s, fielding sub-40 win teams and after several years of rebuilding and draft, the Heat made waves in the 2003 NBA Draft when they selected Dwyane Wade out of Marquette University and paired him with Shaquille O'Neal the following season. The duo, along with a resurgent Riley and well-traveled veterans, would lead Miami to three division titles and a NBA championship in 2006 over the Dallas Mavericks in which Wade was named Finals MVP. The Heat failed to defend their title and free agent signings, trades and injuries would eventually take hold of the future. O'Neal was traded in the 2007–08 NBA season, several players signed elsewhere, Riley retired and Wade underwent several surgeries during a nightmare 2007–08 season as Miami went 15–67, a dubious mark tied by the inaugural team. Only Udonis Haslem, Dwyane Wade, and Dorell Wright remain from the championship team. Dwyane Wade had a monstrous season in the 2008–2009 season, Wade scored more than 2300 points and over 500 assists. He led the team to the NBA playoffs, but the Heat lost to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.
[edit] Season-by-season records
[edit] Players
- For the complete list of Miami Heat players see: Miami Heat all-time roster.
- For the players drafted by the Miami Heat, see: Miami Heat draft history.
[edit] Roster
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Miami Heat roster
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[edit] Notable players.
- Tim Hardaway (1996–2001) — He is the Miami Heat's all time leader in three point field goals (806) and led the Heat to some of the franchise's best seasons. Late season injuries kept Hardaway from performing at the peak of his abilities for almost all of the Heat's playoff runs and he missed most of the playoff games.
- Jamal Mashburn (1997–2000) — Was a key member of the Heat's four consecutive Atlantic Division championship teams.
- Alonzo Mourning (1995–2001, 2004–2007) — Mourning is the holder of several franchise records, including games (538), rebounds (4807), and blocks (1625). His 9459 points were the most in franchise history until Dwyane Wade passed him on March 14, 2009. Mourning made five all-star games as member of the team and won two Defensive Player of The Year awards (1999, 2000).
- Shaquille O'Neal (2004–2008) — The future Hall of Famer was with the Heat from 2004–2008, leading the Heat to their first championship. Injuries kept him from nearly 123 games in the four years.
- Glen Rice (1989–1995) — In Miami, after only averaging 13.6 points per game his rookie season, Rice averaged 20 ppg for his remaining five seasons in Miami, which also included two trips to the playoffs, but without winning a series during Rice's tenure. It was Rice who was included in a deal which brought Alonzo Mourning.
- Dwayne Wade (2003–present) — Picked fifth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft, Wade has been an All-Star since 2005. He has led the Heat to their first NBA Championship in his third pro campaign. He was named the 2006 NBA Finals MVP as he led the Heat to a 4–2 series win over the Dallas Mavericks. He is the Heat's all-time leader in points with over 9,600 and assists with over 2,600.
[edit] Basketball Hall of Famers
Pat Riley: Inducted in 2008
[edit] Retired and honored numbers
Of the three numbers retired by the Heat, only one has actually played for the franchise, Alonzo Mourning. Pat Riley retired Michael Jordan's signature #23 before his final game in Miami during the 2002–03 season as a tribute to his career.[1] Miami retired Mourning's #33 during a halftime ceremony on March 30, 2009.[2] During the 2005–06 season the organization honored Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino #13 in respect of his contributions to the Miami Dolphins.[3]
Honored numbers:
- #13 Dan Marino – Miami Dolphins
Retired numbers:
[edit] Top 25 Heat Players of all time
The 20th Anniversary list compiled by the Miami Heat to celebrate the players.[4]
