Team:
Miami Heat
Sport: NBA Basketball
Background: The Miami Heat are a
National Basketball Association team based in Miami,
Florida.
Founded: 1988
Home Arena: American Airlines Arena
Uniform colors: Red, Black, Flame
orange and Yellow
Logo design: A flaming basketball
going through a hoop
Franchise History:
The Miami HEAT came into the NBA for the 1988-89 season
as part of a two-phase league expansion that also
included the Orlando Magic, the Minnesota Timberwolves
and the Charlotte Hornets. After spending its first
few years in the cellar, the franchise began to make
progress thanks to a series of shrewd draft selections.
Although the Heat failed to achieve a winning season
during their first five campaigns, the team stayed
close to the break-even point and made it into the
playoffs faster than any of its expansion peers.
The campaign to install an NBA franchise in Miami
began in the mid-1980s. The two main movers were Zev
Buffman, a producer of stage extravaganzas, and Billy
Cunningham, an NBA Hall of Famer and successful head
coach. In 1987 the NBA voted to expand by four teams.
Charlotte and Miami were admitted for the 1988-89
season after paying an entry fee of $32.5 million
apiece, and Orlando and Minnesota came aboard the
following year.
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Miami's front-office strength lay in the basketball
savvy of part-owner Cunningham. After a distinguished
college career at the University of North Carolina,
he had been a first-round draft pick of the Philadelphia
76ers. He played 11 years with the Sixers and with
the Carolina Cougars of the American Basketball Association,
was named to the 1966 NBA All-Rookie Team, made four
All-NBA squads, and in 1972-73 was named Most Valuable
Player in the ABA. In 1977 Cunningham became head
coach of the 76ers. During his career he compiled
a 454-196 record for a .698 winning percentage. He
guided the team to three NBA Finals and an NBA championship
in 1982-83.
Not to be forgotten:
• Tim
Hardaway
• Alonzo Mourning
• Glen Rice
• Rony Seikaly
Retired numbers:
• 23
Michael Jordan
Note: The Heat retired number 23
in tribute of Jordan's contributions to the league
despite never playing for the club.
Current stars:
• Eddie
Jones
• Shaquille
O'Neal
• Dwyane Wade
External links:
Miami Heat official web site (http://www.nba.com/heat/)
Official Summer Pro League web site where the Miami
Heat practice in the summer
(http://www.summerproleague.com/)
