MHMiami Heat

Franchise history

The Miami Heat were founded as part of a four-team NBA expansion class for the 1988-89 season. The expansion Heat struggled early, managing just 15 wins in their inaugural season. The organization's fortunes changed in 1995, when owner Micky Arison hired Pat Riley as head coach and team president; Riley's biggest move came in 2004, trading for Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal to pair with young guard Dwyane Wade.

The Shaq-Wade Heat won the franchise's first NBA championship in 2006, defeating Dallas in six games after trailing 0-2; Wade was named Finals MVP. In summer 2010, Miami signed LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join Wade, forming a "Big Three" nicknamed the "Heatles." The trio reached four consecutive Finals (2011-2014), winning back-to-back titles in 2012 (over Oklahoma City) and 2013 (over San Antonio, capped by Ray Allen's dramatic Game 6 three-pointer), with James named Finals MVP both years. James departed for Cleveland in 2014, ending the era.

Sources

• Miami Heat — Wikipedia
• Miami Heat — Britannica

NBA Champions won (3)

• 2005-06
• 2011-12
• 2012-13

Runner-up finishes (4)

• 2010-11
• 2013-14
• 2019-20
• 2022-23

See the full nba champions list for the winner each of these years.