The Miami Heat has seen some of the best players in the league don their colors and dazzle the NBA courts. Competing in the Eastern Conference of the NBA, the Heat have been to seven Finals and won three Championships in their franchise history.

While the Miami-based team may not boast the most Championship titles, their wide acclaim among fans and rich history makes them one of the elite franchises in the league.

From Shaquille O’Neal to LeBron James, from Chris Bosh to Dwyane Wade – all-time greats have donned the Heat colors over the course of the years. So exactly, who are the best players in the history of the Miami Heat? Here’s how we’ve ranked them.

Best Players in Miami Heat history

Many all-time greats have graced the NBA courts wearing the Heat jersey. But few have been able to create Championship legacies that will endure the test of time. As franchise legend Dwyane Wade is about to get his tribute statue built outside the Kaseya Center to honor his legacy for the Heat, here are the best players in the history of the franchise.

5. Tim Hardaway

Although Tim Hardaway played for several NBA franchises, he is widely known for his time with the Miami Heat from 1996 to 2001. Often regarded as the best point guard to have played for the franchise, Hardaway was one of the best of his generation.

With 6,335 points scored during his time with the franchise, Tim Hardaway lists among the top ten scorers for the Heat. Pairing up with Alonzo Mourning and Jamal Mashburn, Hardaway and Co. became destructive in their regular season campaigns. 

Tim Hardaway later played for the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers. He scored 15,373 points, 2,855 rebounds and 7,095 assists during his NBA career, retiring with a legacy that went beyond just the numbers.

4. Alonzo Mourning 

Mourning played 11 seasons with the Miami Heat and was one of the best Centers to have played for the franchise. Alonzo Mourning won the first-ever Championship in Heat history in 2006 after returning from a kidney transplant.

Mourning is the third leader on their all-time scoring list with 9,459 points scored behind second place LeBron James. The Center was named a six-time all-star during his time with the franchise. After playing a short stint with the New Jersey Nets for the 2003-2004 season, Mourning returned to the Heat and played there until 2008 before retiring in 2009.

A beloved Heat legend, Alonzo Mourning is widely regarded as one of the best players in their franchise history. His spectacular defensive skills and tenacity in offense made him an integral part of the squad.

3. Chris Bosh 

Part of the Miami Heat’s iconic ‘Big Three’, Chris Bosh played with the franchise from 2010 to 2017. Bosh was originally drafted by the Toronto Raptors, where he spent seven seasons before being traded to the Heat.

He played four back-to-back NBA Finals from 2011 to 2014 and was named an All-Star six times with the Heat. Already leading the charts for the Toronto Raptors, Bosh went on to become an integral part of the Miami Heat as well. He won two NBA Championships with the franchise in 2012 and 2013. 

Unfortunately for Bosh, he was forced to retire due to a blood clotting illness and ended his career at the Miami Heat. During his NBA career, Chris Bosh scored 17,189 points, 7,592 rebounds and recorded 1,795 assists.

2. LeBron James

In contention with Michael Jordan for the NBA GOAT title, LeBron James has won the Championship with every franchise he has played. But it was with the Miami Heat that King James first lifted the Championship trophy and did so back-to-back in 2012 and 2013.

Despite only playing four seasons with the Heat, LeBron is the second all-time leader in the franchise’s scoring charts with 2338 points. King James won two regular season MVPs, two Finals MVPs and was named All-Star four times during his four-year stay at the Heat. 

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh formed the iconic ‘Heatles‘, widely known as the ‘Big Three‘ who propelled the franchise to back-to-back title glory. Currently playing for the LA Lakers, Lebron James has surely been one of the best players in Miami Heat history. 

1. Dwyane Wade

One of the greatest shooting guards in the league’s history, Dwyane Wade played two stints with the Heat. He was an integral part of all three Championships the Miami Heat won in their franchise history.

Wade was originally drafted in 2003 by the Heat as the fifth overall pick and he continued there until 2013. During this period, Wade was named All-Star nine times from 2005 to 2013. He won three Championships with the franchise in 2006, 2012 and 2013. Wade also won the Finals MVP in 2006.

He led the league in points in the 2008-2009 season and won the scoring title. To date, Dwyane Wade leads the franchise in points, assists, steals and games played. He returned to the Heat in the 2018-2019 season to end his professional career. Wade amassed a total of 23,165 points, 4,933 rebounds and 5,701 assists during his time in the NBA, retiring as an all-time great.

Q. How many NBA Finals has the Miami Heat played?

The Miami Heat has played 4 NBA Finals in franchise history.

Q. How many NBA Championships has the Miami Heat won?

The Miami Heat won 3 NBA Championships in their franchise history.

Q. How many rings does Dwyane Wade have?

Dwyane Wade won 3 Championship rings during his NBA career.

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