Miami Heat has been on top on the basketball world for years, and we are here to give you the full scoop on everything that you didn’t know about this famous team! From team secrets to success stories, you can find all the amazing Heat information that you have been craving when you keep reading!
Number Seven: They are Big on Bonding
When you spend a lot of time with your teammates, there’s no doubt that there will be a bit of team bonding involved. Turns out, these players have a lot more in common than you thought. The Miami team definitely has a favorite community dish, and it’s chicken marsala; every member is in love with the dish. Also, three of the team’s members have been bonding since high school Back then, Mike Conley Jr, Daequan Cook, and Greg Oden all played on the AAU team.
Number Six: Meet the Coach
Meet the big man in charge, Eric Spoelstra. He has a long history with the Miami Heat that began back in 1995, when he started as the NBA team’s video coordinator. Since the early days with the team, his efforts have definitely paid off.
Number Five: Rivalries on the Court
Throughout the history of the NBA, the Heat has had a handful of rivalries. However, the team believes that these “enemies” have really just punched them to greatness. In the past, they have had tensions with the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, and Indiana Pacers, although their most recent rivalry is with the San Antonio Spurs.
Number Four: Starting Out
One of the newer NBA teams, Miami Heat emerged in 1988. The deal was made at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, and has since been owned by Micky Arison. The formation of this team was decided when the NBA expanded with four additional teams, including the Heat, the Orlando Magic, the Charlotte Hornets, and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Number Three: A Team of Greatness
The Heat is often the first team name that comes to mind when thinking of the teams that build stars. Over the years, the Heat has spawned quite a few of basketball’s biggest names, including Alonzo Mourning, Lamar Odom, Dwayne Wade, Lebron James, and of course Shaquille O’Neal.
Number Two: The Best Coach
The Heat attributes a lot of success to their former coach, the renowned Pat Riley. He is known all throughout the world of sports for his coaching skills, and has been named the NBA Coach of the Year in 1990, 1993, and 1997. In 2008, he also received his own induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Since he retired and gave the coach position to Eric Spoelstra, he has served as the Team President of Heat and General Manager. In general, he is considered to be one of the greatest coaches the NBA has ever seen.
Number One: Miami Heat Stats
The team has participated in every season since their debut, making a grand total of 27 seasons thus far. They have appeared in 17 playoffs, and won their first championship in 2006- headed by MVP that year, Dwyane Wade. Their next two championships, attained in 2012 and 2013, were largely attributed to Lebron James. We hope you enjoyed our list of the seven fan facts about the Miami Heat star team!