All-Time Miami Heat Lineup

The Miami Heat have had some great teams over their 20-plus years of existence.

I am going to examine their two best lineups of all time. It will be in the format of All-Heat First Team, All-Heat Second team, similar to All-NBA First team and All-NBA Second team...etc.

From Dwyane Wade to Alonzo Mourning, the Miami Heat have had some excellent players. This piece is purely opinion and is up for debate.

All-Heat First Team: Point Guard

An easy selection for the Heat's best point guard. Timmy Hardaway was an integral part of Miami's late 90's team that was a perennial Eastern Conference powerhouse.

He made the All-NBA first team in the 96-97 season, his first with the Heat. He also was a three-time All Star while playing in a Heat uniform.

Hardaway will always be known as one of Miami's best three-point shooters and one of their greatest passers.

All-Heat First Team: Shooting Guard

It just wouldn't be right if it was any other player. The honor of best Miami Heat shooting guard of all time is hands down No. 3.

Not only is Dwyane Wade the Heat's best shooting guard, it is pretty safe to say he is the best player in Miami Heat history.

The numbers speak for themselves, as Wade recently became the franchises all-time leading scorer. He also broke the record for most steals in franchise history.

And if that isn't enough, Wade led Miami to the team's only NBA Championship in 2006. He is the unquestioned leader of this team and the face of the franchise.

All-Heat First Team: Small Forward

Jamal Mashburn played a vital role in the Heat's late-'90s success. Although he took a secondary scoring role to Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway, Monster Mash was still a great rebounder and a great defender.

His talent was ultimately hindered by his knee injuries, but Heat fans will always remember his hard work.

All-Heat First Team: Power Forward

While the Heat have had some great forwards over the years, no one matches the success of P.J. Brown. He was another great player in the late-'90s era when the Heat were at the top of the Eastern Conference.

In a Heat uniform, Brown made the NBA All-Defensive Second team twice ('97 and '99). During his four seasons with the Heat, he started all but nine games, while averaging solid numbers of 9.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.07 blocks.

The Heat never missed the postseason with Brown on their squad.

All-Heat First Team: Center

While this is a toss-up between Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning, I had to give the honor to Shaq. While 'Zo might have had a better career with the Heat than Shaq had with the Heat, O'Neal was one of the main reasons the Heat won their only title.

In addition, Shaq has had a better career than Mourning. He is a guaranteed Hall-of-Famer and is one of the best centers of all time.

The fact that Shaq was the starting center on the Heat's championship roster forces me to give him the All-Heat first team honors.

All-Heat Second Team: Point Guard

The Heat really haven't had too many great point guards in their history, so it seemed fitting that I gave the All-Second team honors to their championship point guard, Jason Williams.

White Chocolate had a nice three-year stint with the Heat and played a vital role in their championship run.

He will always be remembered for his 10-for-10 shooting performance in the clinching game six against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2006.

J-Dub's last game played was in a Heat jersey, as he retired before he could play for the Clippers. He has been rumored to want to return to the Heat when he gets reinstated next year.

All-Heat Second Team: Shooting Guard

Glen "G-Money" Rice was the franchise's first real star. He was drafted by the Heat in the franchises' second year of existence and had an immediate impact.

He led the team to their first playoff birth in 1992. He also was the franchise's first player to average over 20 points per game.

G-Money will always be remembered for his excellent shooting and offensive skill.

All-Heat Second Team: Small Forward

Eddie Jones is one of my favorite players of all time. While EJ certainly had his flaws, he was finally recognized as a Heat hero in his second stint with the team in 2007.

In Jones' first stint with the Heat, he led the team in scoring in four out the five years he was with the team. He was one of Miami's great three-point shooters off all the time and was always a consistent perimeter defender.

Jones returned to the Heat in 2007 and was recognized as a Heat legend, with the crowd consistently chanting "Eddie, Eddie!"

All-Heat Second Team: Power Forward

No one can match the workhorse effort of Udonis Haslem. The Heat's captain is one of only three players left from Miami's championship roster (Wade, Wright) and is still performing at a very high level. He is the Heat's best rebounder and plays his heart out every game.

Haslem has spent every day of his six-year career in a Heat uniform. He is provided consistency on every Heat roster, with career averages of 10 points and eight boards per game.

UD should retire in a Heat uniform when his career ends.

All-Heat Second Team: Center

Alonzo Mourning is the heart and soul of the Miami Heat franchise. He is an emotionally charged player that has been through it all with the Heat.

From the heartbreaks in the late '90s against the Knicks to being on the championship roster in 2006, Zo has seen it all. While his career did end on an injury, I don't think any Heat fans will remember him for that.

He will be fondly remembered for his performance in the clinching game six in the NBA Finals against the Mavericks, when he put eight points, grabbed six boards, and swatted five shots.

His intensity and tenacity will always be remembered by Heat fans. No. 33 will have a fitting retirement, when the Heat retire his jersey on March 30 against the Magic.

Honorable Mentions

C- Rony Seikaly
SG- Dan Majerle
SG- Steve Smith
SG- Voshon Lenard
PG- Sherman Douglas
SF- Caron Butler
F- Keith Askins