Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade and the 10 Best Players In Franchise History
It was only 23 years ago when the Miami Heat were the NBA's newest expansion team. They immediately made a name for themselves in the league as it took the team over a month to win their first game. The 0-17 start set a then current record for the most games lost to start a season as Rony Seikaly, Kevin Edwards, and Grant Long all became household names in South Beach It was those players that the Miami Heat franchise put out to fill the starting lineup in their inagural season as they finished a league worst 15-67.
Now we see one of the NBA's best as that starting lineup now consists of two of the league's best players and one of the league's best power forwards. Even before Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh joined the team, the Heat have produced and showcased a number of superstars. Even within a decade of the teams first season, they had a few of the league's premier stars that were setting franchise records that have still stood even in the Dwyane Wade era.
The inside-outside duo of Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway quickly became one of the league's most dangerous tandems as the Heat would find themselves at the top of the Eastern Conference for nearly the entirety of the late-1990's. Even in their down periods following the Zo period and even after the Shaquille O'Neal error there would be players that could shut the building down on any night. It's tough to say when there has been a dull moment in the American Airlines Arena lately.
It was tough to break the list down to 10 players because there were many other players that could have made a push for a spot. Role players from the 1990's and late 2000's all deserved spots that had already been filled. It only the team could have the players in this slide show to make the perfect Heat lineup to roll out. Their prayers would be answered with Zo in the middle and Hardaway at the point.
Throw in Dan Majerle alongside Mike Miller and I wouldn't know how to contain that.
10. Sherman Douglas
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A second round pick of the Miami Heat in the 1989-'90 season, Sherman Douglas only spent two seasons in Miami, but he also had the best season of his 14 year NBA career. The 'Little General' ,as he became known as, was an undersized product out of Syracuse University standing at only 6'0" and 180 pounds and becoming the teams first memorable point guard in franchise history.
He had a quality rookie showing with Miami as he started 66 games and averaged 14 points, eight assists, and two steals earning himself a spot on the NBA All-Rookie team. He would continue his impressive run the next season by averaging an overall career highs in points at nearly 19 per game. He'd also finish ninth in the league in assists per game at a little under nine. Unfortunately for Miami, Douglas would be traded next season to the Boston Celtics in return for Brian Shaw.
Sherman never had another year as productive as his sophomore year with any of the four other teams that he had played for following Miami. He would average nine assists in the 1993-'94 season with the Celtics, but failed to ever record more than 15 points per game. His short time with Miami was certainly his most memorable over his long career.
9. Jamal Mashburn
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He might have only spent three and a half seasons with Miami, but they also happened to be some of the best seasons in Heat history. Miami barely had to part with anyone worth noting to get Mashburn from the Dallas Mavericks as they parted ways with Sasha Danilovic, Martin Murrsepp, and Kurt Thomas to acquire the 6'8" beast. Consider it a bargain too, Mashburn averaged 23 points for two consecutive seasons only a few years prior to the trade.
Jamal joined the team halfway through the 1996-'97 season and he would quickly make his impact felt as he averaged 13 points and five rebounds in 32 games while playing alongside Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway leading the team to a franchise best 61 wins and their first conference finals appearance. Jamal would continue to improve, but he would also be subject to injuries in his first two seasons after the 1996-'97 campaign by playing in a combined 72 games. He would play only one full season with the Heat and it was during the the 1999-'00 season when he averaged 17 points and five rebounds.
He, along with P.J. Brown, Rodney Buford, Otis Thorpe, and Tim James, would be traded to Charlotte in return for Ricky Davis, Dale Ellis, Eddie Jones, and Anthony Mason. Jamal would go on to average over 20 points per game for the last four seasons of his career, but he would never find as quality team success as he would only play in 15 playoff games in four seasons with Charlotte compared to the 37 he had with the Heat.
8. Eddie Jones
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A direct result of the Jamal Mashburn trade, Eddie Jones joined the team over the 2000 off season and quickly made a name for himself during the lost years of the Miami Heat franchise. Eddie had already become a household name in his time with the Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets, but it wouldn't be until the 2000-'01 season that Jones would become popular in South Beach. Even with the Heat dropping off from their late-1990's success, Jones would still give Heat fans a reason to watch Miami basketball.
Miami would win 50 games in his initial year with the team, but they would be swept in the first round and would then not see the post season until the 2003-'04 year. During these off years for Miami, Eddie would become the primary scorer averaging 17 in his first season, 18 in the next two, 17 during the memorable 2003-'04 campaign, and 13 in his final season with the team before being traded away for the essential pieces that the Heat would need to secure their first championship. He would come back in the 2006-'07 season as a 35 year old role player.
Miami fans will remember Jones as the three-point king of the Heat as he averaged nearly two three-pointers per game over his initial five seasons with the team. It was unfortunate for Jones that he couldn't be a part of the team that won the title, but the city of Miami owes him a lot for being the primary player during some dark years.
7. Udonis Haslem
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Undrafted out of the University of Florida and taken a year after he played in Europe, Udonis Haslem is one of the success stories of the league, but more importantly of the Heat. He slimmed down when he came to Miami and earned quality, well-earned minutes in the 2003-'04 season as he proved that he could be one of the teams more reliable mid-range shooters and rebounders. If not for Lamar Odom already being on the team, chances are that Haslem would have been the second rookie to start on the upstart squad.
Following Odom's departure, Haslem would find himself starting at the power forward position for the next five seasons. He'd average 11 points and nine rebounds in his first season as starter, but would see his production drop off the next season to only nine points and eight rebounds as his teammates would take the scoring and rebounding load off of him. It didn't matter too much to Haslem who would still be recognized as a starter on the 2005-'06 Heat championship team. Udonis would average nine points and seven rebounds in the teams historic run.
Since then, Haslem has played the role as the reliable sidekick. He always finds himself in the right place at the right time to hit the open, mid-range jumper, is one of the teams most reliable rebounders, and is without a doubt the heart, soul, and emotion of this team as he gives 110% every night. He has since found himself coming off the bench in place of the likes of Michael Beasley and Chris Bosh, but it hasn't affected his game at all as he still is one of the teams quality players.
The legacy almost came to an end this season when teams like the Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks offered more money to Haslem during his free agency period over the off season, but he instead elected to take half of that just to stay with Miami. It's tough to find dedication and commitment in today's sporting world and the Heat are lucky enough to have one of those players ready to be the teams warrior on a nightly basis.
6. Rony Seikaly
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Break out the time machine for this one, we're taking this back to a lost time called the 1980's. Playing alongside Rice in the Heat's first years was a Lebanese product out of Syracuse University by the name of Rony Seikaly who also happened to be the Heat's first franchise draft pick. Taken with the ninth pick, Seikaly played alongside of a bunch of no-name players during the teams memorable first season where they set an NBA record for losing the most games to start a season with 17. Thankfully, there were the New Jersey Nets of the 2009-'10 season who would break that record.
To say the least, Seikaly was one of the league's more underrated players in his first few seasons with the Heat as he'd record five consecutive seasons of averaging a double-double in points and rebounds. He averaged as much as 12 rebounds and would finish in the league's top ten rebounders three times in his stint with the Heat. He'd also consistently record 16 to 17 points per game and would also earn the first NBA award in franchise history when he won the Most Improved Player award in his sophomore season.
He would be traded prior to the star of the 1994-'95 season to the Golden State Warriors and would never see the same production he had with Miami. Injuries would shorten his career and his tenure in the league would end abruptly in the 1998-'99 season after playing only nine games with the New Jersey Nets. Seikaly was the Heat's first franchise player and he also gave first time NBA fans in South Beach a reason to watch their second sports team.
5. Glen Rice
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The O.G. of Miami Heat superstars. Before you saw the big three join up a few months ago in South Beach. Before you saw one of the most unstoppable inside-outside duo's in the league. Even before the team was giving Michael Jordan a run for his money in the late-1990's, there was Glen Rice taking the franchise and the league by storm. Following an illustrious career at the University of Michigan, Rice was taken with the number four pick in the 1989 draft by the Miami Heat and it was the beginning of the original dynasty.
At 14 points and five rebounds per game in his first season, Rice earned All-NBA second team honors and would only improve from there. He'd average 17 the next season and would have his break-out year the next when he was scoring 22 points on 47% shooting. That would also happen to be the Heat's first playoff appearance in franchise history as they'd take on Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the first round. Miami would get swept in the series, but it was all part of the growing up process for Rice and this young Heat squad.
Rice wouldn't be as productive the next season, averaging only 19 points, but he'd hit the 20 point per game clip for the next two seasons leading the team to the post season in the 1993-'94 season and also giving the team their first post season win before eventually losing to Dominique Wilkins and the Atlanta Hawks 3-2. Glenn would be traded two seasons later to Charlotte in return for another Heat superstar in the making.
4. Tim Hardaway
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When Tim Hardaway joined the team mid-way through the 1995-'96 season as a result of a trade that sent out Bimbo Coles and Kevin Willis to the Golden State Warriors, it also happened to be the first of six consecutive seasons that the Miami Heat would make the post season. Miami wasn't just making the post season either, they were dominating in the regular season and were only a few games away from making their first NBA championship. In fact, the Heat would win four consecutive Atlantic Division titles.
Hardaway, alongside another big reason, was a tremendous beneficiary during his time with Miami as he'd play some of the best years of his career in a Heat uniform. While many remember him mostly for his Run TMC days with the Warriors, he didn't have the same team success that he had with the Heat as a championship would always be the goal. If not for the New York Knicks, that feat might have been completed.
The 1996-'97 would be Hardaway's best season of his career as he'd average 20 points and nearly nine assists per game, while also earning MVP talk and consideration. He'd finish fourth in MVP voting and would make his first and only All-NBA first team. Timmy would play six productive seasons with the Heat before being traded away prior to the 2001-'02 season. He was one of the team's most memorable players as his high energy, his ankle-breaking crossover, and his clutch performances would make him one of the league's volatile players as well as one of the franchises favorite players.
Chances are that the Heat today wish they could have a point guard like Hardaway on the team.
3. Shaquille O'Neal
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The departure wasn't fun, but his time here sure was. Thanks to disputes between Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and pretty much the entire organization, the Heat took advantage of the situation that was unfolding in Los Angeles by pulling off one of the most historic moves in league history. Miami did the impossible by bringing in O'Neal, while still holding on to the one piece they were ready to build a franchise around. It was obvious after the 59 win 2004-'05 season that bringing in O'Neal to play alongside one of the league's most talented player was a good idea.
The Heat didn't exactly get the Shaq that was scoring at a 30 point per game clip, but they did get the perfect sidekick for the job as O'Neal came a few points away from becoming the first Heat player to win a league MVP after averaging 23 points and 10 rebounds while helping make Miami one of the league's most dangerous teams to face. His production however would decrease from there as he'd never average more than 20 points or 10 rebounds per game. He'd still prove to be worthwhile in the Heat's title runs as his presence alone was enough for the team to win a title.
Unfortunately, O'Neal would tarnish his tenure with the team by saying some rather rude statements to the Heat organization, Ricky Davis, and Chris Quinn upon leaving the team. Nevertheless, Shaq was a staple of this team as he helped bring home the Heat's first and lone title, while also making the team one of the league's best teams for a two year period. The two years after the title were years worth forgetting, but O'Neal did make his presence and his personality felt in his short time with the team.
2. Alonzo Mourning
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It's tough to argue against Alonzo Mourning as being one of, if not the league's most competitive players in history. When Heat fans see Udonis Haslem give it his all in the games that he has been a part of, he can barely hold a candle to what Mourning brought onto the court in each and every last game he played as a member of the Miami Heat. If not for a dispute with Larry Johnson in the Charlotte Hornets organization, the monumental trade that brought Zo in might have never occurred.
Mourning would average over 20 points per game in his first four seasons in the league and would average a career high 23 points to go alongside 10 rebounds in his first year with the team. He and Tim Hardaway would lead the team to their third post season appearance and would then lead the team to five more while making the Heat a dynasty in the making. Alonzo would continue to put his heart and soul into every game as he'd average as much as 11 rebounds and four blocks in the the 1998-'99 season. He'd also finish second in league MVP voting in the lockout shortened season.
It appeared that Zo would never even come close to sniffing the title as he wouldn't go further than the Conference finals and would then see his career derailed by a kidney ailment that nearly took his life. Following a brief retirement and stint with the New Jersey Nets, he would join the Heat once again alongside Shaq to create one of the league's most dangerous one-two punches at the center spot. Disappointment would hit him hard again in the 2004-'05 playoffs, but his wish of winning a championship finally came true the next year when the Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks 4-2.
Despite being 35 years old at the time, Mourning didn't play the role as veteran bench warmer. He was on the floor in the decisive game six and essentially won the Heat the game behind his six blocks. It appeared that Alonzo wanted the title more than anyone else, even more than the Heat player who averaged 35 points per contest in the series. It was Zo's day however and he finally earned himself the hardware that he had been working 15 years for.
1. Dwyane Wade
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Was there ever any doubt of who would be the franchise's number one player? Alonzo Mourning certainly is the heart and soul of this team and has led the team to a franchise high in wins for a season, but he hasn't done nearly as much as what Dwyane Wade has accomplished in seven legendary seasons. He came into the 2003 draft as an unheralded sophomore out of Marquette University and wasn't getting near the same publicity as LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony were. Wade was taken fifth by the Heat and was given a starting spot upon his arrival.
He'd average a solid 16 points in a 42 win season where he led his team to a fourth seed and he'd make his mark on the NBA with a game winner in game one of the first round against the New Orleans Hornets and a huge dunk over Jermaine O'Neal in the second round of the post season against the heavily favored Indiana Pacers. His Heat team would defeat the Hornets in the first round 4-3, but they would be ousted 4-2 in a series that went farther than most NBA fans envisioned.
The next season would be all about Wade as the organization brought in Shaquille O'Neal and it would be from there that the Heat would become the Dwyane Wade show. They'd make the conference finals in their first season together, but it would come to a crashing halt after a few injuries to Wade minimized his performance in game six and seven against the Detroit Pistons. The next year would be a completely different story as Wade and O'Neal would only need six games to defeat the Pistons and advance to their first championship in franchise history.
It wouldn't start out pretty though as the Heat would lose the first two games of the series in Dallas. Game three back in Miami didn't look any better as the Mavs held a 13 point lead with a little over five minutes remaining. From there, Wade would make his mark on NBA history as he would lead the team back from the dead to win the game. He'd lead the team to three more wins and an eventual championship as he'd average 35 points in the series while going on to win Finals MVP.
It'd be a few more years of obscurity for Wade and the Heat as his team would win 44 the next season, a dismal 15 the next, and two more years of Dwyane carrying the load of the likes of Michael Beasley and an aging Jermaine O'Neal. However, Wade would get the team he has been waiting for with LeBron James and Chris Bosh joining the Heat in hopes of winning another title and then some.
There is little to no doubt that Dwyane Wade is the franchise's best player just considering all he has done since he has joined the team. Among his accolades include making six All-Star games, the All-NBA first team twice, a scoring title, and earning third in the voting for the MVP award at the end of the 2008-'09 season. No accolade however matches the Finals MVP and the championship he has brought in to the franchise.
Honorable Mentions
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LeBron James: We'll have to give LeBron a year or two, and hopefully a title or two, before he can join this list. He has already made his impression felt currently averaging 26 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists while helping Wade and Chris Bosh lead the team to a 34-14 record, but it's going to take a few more accolades and a few more years for James to crack this list.
Dan Majerle: It was a memorable five seasons for Majerle and the Heat, but it was unfortunate for Miami that they got him on the down side of his career. He joined the team in the 1996-'97 season at the age of 31 and only averaged double-digit points in his first season with the Heat at 11 per contest. Dan was a starter during the late-90's glory days of the Heat and was a considerable three-point threat for the team averaging a consistent 1.5 per contest.
P.J. Brown: Another solid member of the late-90's Heat franchise, P.J. Brown narrowly misses out on the top 10. He was the Udonis Haslem of the time as he was utilized primarily as a solid 10 point and eight rebound player. Brown was also recognized as a hard-nosed defender as earned three trips to the All-NBA Defensive second team, two of them with the Heat.
Steve Smith: Miami is where it all started, and ended, for Smith as he spent the first three years of a quality career with the Heat. The fifth pick by the Heat in the 1991 draft, Smith would have a solid rookie outing by averaging 12 points and five assists. He'd follow that up by increasing his stats over the next two seasons before finally topping off at 17 points and five assists in his final season with the Heat in his initial stint. He'd be traded to the Heat in the 2004-'05 season and would play 13 games before retiring.
Voshon Lenard: Lenard spent five seasons with the team, but would see injuries derail progress in three of them as he'd only play over 70 games twice in his tenure with the Heat. He averaged as much as 13 points per game and was hitting nearly three three-pointers per game in the 1996-'97 season. He also did this.
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