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The Miami Heat have won three NBA championships in their history, and all three have come in the 21st century. Fittingly, the team has had some all-time talent on their rosters since 2000. This list will look at the greatest starting five for the Miami Heat in the 21st century.
Miami Heat' greatest starting 5 of the 21st century
The franchise drafted Dwyane Wade in the 2003 NBA Draft, and he became the ultimate Heat player in their history.
Wade played 15 seasons for the Miami franchise and was present in each of their three titles. In Miami, Wade's tenure saw two big moments in franchise history, where all-time greats joined him to compete for titles.
In this article, we will look at the greatest starting five of the 21st century for the Miami Heat.
Point Guard - LeBron James
Yes, LeBron James is the greatest small forward in the NBA's history, but if a player's essence defines his true basketball position, The King can be considered the ultimate point guard.
Of course, James made a shocking move to join the Miami Heat back in 2010 with his flamboyant "The Decision", and formed a big three with Wade and Chris Bosh.
Though the trio got off to a rocky start, they eventually reached the 2011 NBA Finals, and the Miami Heat were tipped to win. However, the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki were too much for them, and they fell in six games.
The next year, LeBron James won the NBA MVP award and guided the team to the NBA championship after beating the OKC Thunder in the Finals, with James named Finals MVP. In 2013, they successfully defended their title after beating the San Antonio Spurs in a seven-game Finals series.
In reality, The King is the greatest player ever to put on a Heat jersey, even when he is not the most iconic or beloved franchise player of all time.
In his four seasons as a Miami Heat player, James averaged 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists per game; he won two regular-season MVPs, two Finals MVPs, and led the team to four NBA Finals.
Shooting Guard - Dwyane Wade
There is not a doubt about who is the most representative Miami Heat player of all time. Dwyane Wade was an essential piece of each of the three titles in franchise history.
In his 15 seasons with the Miami Heat, Wade went to 13 All-Star games, earned eight All-NBA selections, and appeared in the All-Defense teams three times.
Moreover, he led Miami Heat's charge to the 2006 NBA championship after having a stunning Finals series against the Dallas Mavericks. He earned the Finals MVP recognition after averaging 35 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals per game in the six-game series.
Small Forward - Jimmy Butler
Though Jimmy Butler has played only one NBA season with the Miami Heat, his historic run in the 2020 NBA Playoffs helped him find a spot in this lineup.
Butler was the best player for the Miami Heat during the team's run in the 2020 NBA Playoffs, which ended with a six-game loss in the NBA Finals against the favored LeBron James-Anthony Davis LA Lakers.
In his first season with the Miami Heat, Butler averaged 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists per game in the regular season. He led the team in points per game, assists per game, and steals per game in the regular season.
Then, Butler led the team again in the playoffs, both offensively and with clutch defense. In the 2020 NBA Finals, he had two historic games - Games 3 and 5. He recorded the third 40-point triple-double in NBA Finals history (joining Jerry West and LeBron James) in Game 3.
Power Forward - Chris Bosh
Chris Bosh was a franchise player for the Toronto Raptors before constructing the Miami Heat's big three in 2010 with The King and Wade.
Bosh was an essential member of the Heat's best run in franchise history. He played in four consecutive NBA Finals from 2011 to 2014 and won two championships with the franchise. CB played six seasons at Miami, averaging 18 points and 7 rebounds per game (384 appearances in the regular season).
In the NBA Playoffs, Bosh grabbed a season-saving offensive rebound in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals and assisted Ray Allen's historic game-tying three-pointer to keep the Heat (down 3-2 at that point) in the running to repeat as NBA champions.
Center - Shaquille O'Neal
The Miami Heat's history probably was completely changed by Shaquille O'Neal arriving from the LA Lakers in 2004.
His impact off the court was unique, as always, and his presence on the basketball court changed the Miami Heat's entire view around the league.
In his first season with the Miami Heat, Shaq averaged 23 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks per game in the regular season. The team found their way to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1997 (and the second time in franchise history).
The following year, O'Neal and D-Wade combined their efforts to push the team into the NBA Finals. After falling in a 0-2 hole in the championship series, the Miami Heat won four straight games to overcome the Dallas Mavericks and win their first title.
O'Neal played three and a half seasons at Miami, averaging 20 points and nine rebounds per game on 60% shooting.
Also read: 5 Players linked with the Miami Heat who can help them go all the way in the 2020-21 season
