Miami Heat

Guide Note

The Miami Heat play in the Southeast Division of the NBA's Eastern Conference In their franchise history the Miami Heat has won Seven Division Titles, One Conference Title and one NBA Championship.

Fast Facts

1. 2006 NBA Champions
2. Established in 1988
3. Head Coach: Pat Riley
4. General Manager: Randy Pfund
5. Owned by Mickey Arison
6. Team Colors: Red, White, Black, and Orange
7. Home: American Airlines Arena

The Miami Heat were established in 1987 as part of the NBA Expansion which included the Charlotte Hornets, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Orlando Magic. The team achieved mediocre success until the arrival of Pat Riley in 1995.

In 1995, former New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach Pat Riley was hired as the New President and Head Coach of the Heat. His first major Roster move was trading fan favorite Glen Rice to the Charlotte Hornets for center Alonzo Mourning. Riley then acquired point guard Tim Hardaway. A year later in the Heat won their first Division Title. They would go on to win Division titles in 1998, 1999, and 2000.

In 2005, in the midst of a bitter feud in Los Angeles involving Kobe Bryant and Lakers owner Jerry Buss, the Los Angeles Lakers traded Shaquille O'Neal to the Miami Heat for players Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and Brian Grant. With O'Neal as the anchor, the Heat would go on to win division championships in 2005 and 2007.

In 2006 however, the Heat would win their first ever Conference title, followed by an NBA Championship over the Dallas Mavericks, with superstar Dwyane Wade winning the NBA Finals MVP. With injuries and the team transitioning to a youth movement, O'Neal was traded to the Phoenix Suns in 2008 for NBA All-Star Shawn Marion and guard Marcus Banks.

• 1988: First Season
• 1995: Pat Riley named President and Head Coach
• 2004: Heat trade for Shaquille O'Neal
• 2006: Win NBA Championship