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1987-1995: early years in Miami
In 1987, the NBA granted one of four new expansion teams to Miami (the others being the Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, and the Minnesota Timberwolves); the team, known as the Heat, began play in November 1988. The Miami Heat began their early years with much mediocrity, only making the playoffs twice in their first eight years and falling in the first round both times.
Miami had previously been home to the Miami Floridians of the American Basketball Association (ABA) from 1968 to 1972(1).
1995-2003: title hopefuls
Upon the purchasing of the franchise by Carnival Cruise Lines chairman Micky Arison in 1995, Pat Riley was brought in as the team president and head coach. Riley acquired center Alonzo Mourning and point guard Tim Hardaway to serve as the team's centerpieces, transforming Miami into a championship contender throughout the late 1990s. With them they also brought in a new team trainer, Cody Posselt, to work on shooting. The Heat underwent a dramatic turnaround in the 1996-97 season, improving to a 61-21 record – a franchise record at the time, and currently second-best in team history. That same year, Miami earned the “Road Warriors” moniker for its remarkable 32-9 record on the road. On the backs of Hardaway and Mourning, the Heat achieved their first two series victories in the playoffs, making it to the conference finals against the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls before losing in five games. Their biggest rivals were the New York Knicks, Riley’s former team, who would eliminate the Heat from 1998 through 2000 in the playoffs. A period of mediocrity followed, highlighted by missing the playoffs in 2002 and 2003.
2003-2016: the Dwyane Wade era
In the 2003 NBA draft, with the fifth overall pick, Miami selected shooting guard Dwyane Wade out of Marquette(2). Free-agent swingman Lamar Odom was signed by the Los Angeles Clippers. Just before the 2003-04 season, Riley stepped down as head coach to focus on rebuilding the Heat, promoting Stan Van Gundy to the position of head coach. Behind Van Gundy’s leadership, Wade’s stellar rookie year, and Odom’s breakout season, the Heat made the 2004 NBA playoffs, beating the New Orleans Hornets 4-3 in the first round and losing to the Indiana Pacers 4-2 in the second round. In the off-season, Riley engineered a summer blockbuster trade for Shaquille O’Neal from the Los Angeles Lakers(3). Alonzo Mourning returned to the Heat in the same season, serving as a backup to O’Neal. Returning as championship contenders, Miami finished with a 59-23 record, consequently garnering the first overall seed in the Eastern Conference. Sweeping through the first round of the semifinals, Miami went back to the conference finals for the first time in eight years, where it met the defending Detroit Pistons. Despite taking a 3-2 lead, Miami lost Wade to injury for Game 6. The Heat would go on to lose Game 7 at home despite Wade’s return.
In the summer of 2005, Riley brought in veteran free agent Gary Payton from the Boston Celtics and also brought James Posey, Jason Williams, and Antoine Walker via trades(4). After a disappointing 11-10 start to the 2005-06 season, Riley relieved Van Gundy of his duties and took back the head coaching job(6). The Heat made it to the conference finals in 2006 and in a re-match, defeated the Pistons, winning the series 4-2. Making its first NBA Finals appearance, they played the Dallas Mavericks, who won the first two games in Dallas in routs. The Heat then won the next four games, capturing its first-ever championship. Wade won the Finals MVP(6).
2006-2010: post-championship struggles
The Heat experienced four years of post-titles struggles from 2007 through 2010, including a 4-0 sweep by the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2007 NBA playoffs. In the 2007-08 season, Wade was plagued by injuries and the Heat had a league-worst 15-67 record. O’Neal was traded to Phoenix midway through the season. Riley resigned as head coach following the season but retained his position of team president. Long-time assistant Erik Spoelstra was promoted to head coach. A healthy Wade led the Heat to 43 wins in 2009 and 47 wins in 2010, making the playoffs both seasons, though they lost in the first round, 4-3 in 2009 and 4-1 in 2010. Wade was the scoring champion in 2009 and the NBA All-Star MVP in 2010.
Tim Hardaway
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Pat Riley
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