Miami Heat All-Decade Team: Which current Heat players made the cut?
What a decade it has been for the Heat.
It began with the Big 3 of Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. It continued with four consecutive NBA Finals appearances, and included NBA championships in 2012 and 2013.
There were some rough times, too, like Bosh’s blood-clot episodes that ended his NBA career early. The Heat also had to deal with Wade leaving the organization in the summer of 2016 before he was traded back to Miami in the middle of the 2017-18 season. And the Heat has missed the playoffs in three of the past five seasons.
Where is the Heat at the start of the new decade? The Heat enters 2020 with the league’s fourth-best record at 24-9. Up next is a Thursday matchup against the Raptors at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Here’s a look at the Miami Herald’s Heat All-Decade Team for 2010-19 ...
FIRST TEAM
Frontcourt
Chris Bosh: Blood-clot issues cut Bosh’s career short, but not before he left his mark on the organization. As a member of the the Heat’s Big 3, the 11-time All-Star helped the team win two NBA championships. He averaged 18 points on 49.6 percent shooting, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists in six seasons with the Heat.
Udonis Haslem: While Haslem’s playing time has been limited during the past few seasons, he still plays an important role for the Heat as its longtime team captain. And Haslem did play an important on-court role for the Heat at the start of the decade during the Big 3 era. Haslem, who is in his 17th NBA season (all with the Heat), is also the franchise’s all-time leading rebounder.
LeBron James: While James spent just four seasons with the Heat from 2010 to 2014, they were seasons that won’t be forgotten. Widely considered as the most talented player to ever represent the franchise, James is the only one to be named the NBA’s MVP while playing for the Heat — doing it twice in 2011-12 and 2012-13. James also helped lead Miami to two NBA championships, earning the Finals MVP both times.
Backcourt
Goran Dragic: Since the Suns traded Dragic to the Heat in February 2015, the Slovenian guard has turned into an important part of Miami’s roster. In six seasons with the Heat, Dragic has averaged 16.7 points while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 36.6 percent on threes, to go with 5.3 assists. He also made his first NBA All-Star Game in 2018 while playing for the Heat.
Dwyane Wade: While James might be the most talented player to ever wear a Heat uniform, Wade is the greatest because of his combination of talent and accomplishments with the franchise. A key member of Miami’s Big 3 teams, Wade is the franchise’s all-time leader in games played, minutes played, points, field goals made, free throws made, assists, steals and many other categories. Wade has also been on the roster for each of the Heat’s three NBA championships, including both from this past decade.
SECOND TEAM
Frontcourt
Bam Adebayo: Small sample size, sure. Adebayo is only in his third NBA season and has averaged 9.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 0.8 blocks over his young NBA career after the Heat drafted him with the 14th overall pick in 2017. But he has already proven to be one of the most talented big men Miami has had on its roster over the past decade. Adebayo is in the middle of a career-best season and looks to be on his way to his first All-Star Game appearance.
Jimmy Butler: An even smaller sample size than Adebayo, Butler is only in the middle of his first season with the Heat. But the four-time All-Star wing player has already made a big impact as the driving force behind the Heat’s best start to a season since the Big 3 era. Butler is averaging a team-high in points (20.8), assists (6.6) and steals (2). Playing just half a season with the Heat over this past decade is enough to push him off the first team, but not enough to keep him off the list entirely.
Hassan Whiteside: While Whiteside’s time with the Heat was far from perfect, he put together an impressive list of accomplishments during his five seasons with the organization. The 7-footer led the NBA with 14.1 rebounds per game in 2016-17 and led the NBA with 3.7 blocks per game in 2015-16. Whiteside also set the team record for the most double-doubles recorded in a season, with 58 in 2016-17. He was traded to the Trail Blazers this past summer as part of the Butler sign-and-trade deal.
Backcourt
Ray Allen: Not only did Allen make what’s widely considered the biggest shot in Heat history, hitting a huge three-pointer from the corner with 5.2 seconds remaining to tie the score and force overtime in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals. Miami went to win that game in overtime, and took the championship series in seven games. But he was also a pretty effective weapon off the bench during the Big 3 era, averaging 10.3 points on 39.8 percent shooting on threes in his two seasons with the Heat.
Mario Chalmers: The starting point guard on two of the Heat’s championship teams in 2012 and 2013, Chalmers finished his Heat tenure with averages of 8.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals in eight seasons with the organization. While not part of this past decade, Chalmers also set Heat rookie records in the 2008-09 season for games played (82), games started (82), three-pointers made (119) and steals (160).
THIRD TEAM
Frontcourt
Chris “Birdman” Andersen: It didn’t take long for Andersen to become a fan favorite with his energetic playing style and unique personality. He was also a big part of the Heat’s bench during that championship season in 2012-13. Andersen averaged 6.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks during that playoff run.
Shane Battier: Now a Heat executive, Battier played for both of Miami’s championship teams from the past decade. Used mostly in a bench role, he averaged 5.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and one assist while also serving as one of the Heat’s most reliable defenders in three seasons with the organization.
Luol Deng: Signed by the Heat in the summer of 2014 when James left to return to the Cavaliers, Deng ended up playing two seasons in Miami. He averaged 13.1 points on 46.2 percent shooting and 5.6 rebounds during his time with the Heat.
Backcourt
Mike Miller: An important part of the Heat’s Big 3 teams, signing with the organization in the same summer Bosh, James and Wade decided to come together. Miller played on both of Miami’s championship teams from the past decade. He shot 41.2 percent on threes during his three seasons with the Heat.
Josh Richardson: After the Heat selected Richardson in the second round of the 2015 draft, he became one of Miami’s most impressive developmental stories. Richardson averaged 16.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals in a leading role with the Heat last season before he was traded to the 76ers this past summer as part of the Butler sign-and-trade deal.
This story was originally published January 1, 2020 at 10:36 AM.
