History of the Miami Heat

90s - Passing of the Torch

The Heat were an expansion team in 1988 and like most expansion teams, were nothing special off the bat. Eventually they got a core big 3 of Rice, Smith, and Seikaly but were never a threat for a ring. They decided to reset, signing star Alonzo Mourning and trading for Hardaway and Mashburn making them contenders but never reached the finals.

00s - A Bright Future

The Heat drafted their first superstar in Dwyane Wade and quickly put veterans around him to win a championship. These veterans included Shaquille O’Neal, Alonzo Mourning, and Gary Payton. Even after they left, the Heat knew they had a bright future if they could keep Wade.

10s - The Superteam Emerges

Once they signed superstars Lebron James and Chris Bosh it was championship or bust year in and year out. They went to four straight finals and won twice before Lebron left and injuries struck. Eventually they found a new core with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo who went to the finals in 2020.