Tim Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning Headline Miami Heat's 1990s All-Decade Team
The Miami Heat were a struggling expansion franchise in the early 1990s.
And then the Pat Riley era began.
Riley left the New York Knicks in 1995 to become the coach of the Heat. By his second season, they were a 61-win team that lost to the mighty Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference. The Heat were here to stay among league powers.
Here's a look at five players who helped make it happen during the decade:
Glen Rice, forward, 1989-94
Rice was the most dynamic scorer in Heat history until a guy named Dwyane Wade arrived in 2003. He averaged at least 20 points in three of his four seasons in Miami during the `90s. His peak was a 56-point performance against the Orlando Magic in 1995. Rice was one his way to putting his name all over the franchise's record books before he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets later that season.
Tim Hardaway, guard, 1996-2001
The Heat received Hardaway at a bargain price when they acquired him and Chris Gatling from Golden State in exchange for Kevin Willis and Bimbo Coles at midseason in 1996.
Hardaway eventually became one of the Heat's most celebrated players. He is one of five Miami players with their jersey retired. He averaged 17.3 points and 7.8 assists during his six seasons with the Heat. Hardaway was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.
Alonzo Mourning, center 1995-2001, 2004-07
Mourning was acquired in a trade from the Charlotte Hornets for Rice. After leading the Hornets to their first playoff series victory, he helped turn around the Heat. He made six All-Star games and twice won Defensive Player of the Year during his time in Miami. After leaving for the New Jersey Nets, he returned in 2004 and helped the Heat win their first championship in 2006.
Steve Smith, guard, 1991-94
Smith wasn't in Miami for long but made a lasting impact. After making the All-Rookie Team, he had his best season in 1993-94. He averaged 17.3 points and 5.1 assists, leading the Heat to their first winning record (42-40). Smith was then surprisingly traded two games into the next season to the Atlanta Hawks for Willis.
Jamal Mashburn, forward, 1996-99
The Heat acquired Mashburn from the Dallas Mavericks at midseason in 1997. The trade paid immediate dividends, with Mashburn averaging 13.4 points and 5.6 rebounds. He helped take the scoring load off Hardaway and Mourning. In 1999-2000, his last in Miami, he averaged 17.5 points.
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