Feb 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. Miami Heat defeated the Orlando Magic 93-90 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Miami Heat may have had it rough last season, but it was never due to lack of talent. In fact, throughout team history, the roster has pretty much always been filled with supremely skilled players. Yesterday, AllUCanHeat took a look at the top five point guards of all time, so today, I am bringing you shooting guards.
Next: Baby Jordan?
5. Harold Miner
Remember “Baby Jordan?”
Miner was selected at No. 12 by the Heat in 1992, after playing at USC for three years–where he was selected by Sports Illustrated as player of the year his junior season over players such as Shaquille O’Neal and Alonzo Mourning.
He also had a pretty good run with Miami during his rookie and sophomore years. Although he did not start in any games, he averaged 10.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in his first year in the NBA. These numbers only went up the next year too; Miner was averaging 10.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists.
Miner’s biggest claim to fame however, was winning the Slam Dunk Contest twice: first in 1993, and then again in 1995. In 1995, he beat Isaiah Rider, who was the defending champion, which really prompted people to label Miner as “one of the game’s best dunkers.”
Unfortunately, he was traded in 1995 to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he would finish out his career. After only 19 games, he was waived, and attributed serious knee problems as the reason why he was never able to come back.
Still, the shooting guard will forever be a part of Heat history.
Next: An Original
4. Kevin Edwards
Rony Seikaly wasn’t the only player the Heat picked in their inaugural draft in 1988. After picking Seikaly with the ninth pick, Miami drafted a young shooting guard out of DePaul University by the name of Kevin Edwards.
Edwards played for the Heat the next five seasons, averaging double digit points each one of them. He was eventually allowed to enter free agency and signed with the New Jersey Nets, where he had some of his best seasons. In Miami, Edwards averaged 12.2 points, 3.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game in five seasons. He still ranks among the top-10 in Heat history in assists (8th) and steals (5th).
Edwards was one of the original Heat players, and though the team didn’t enjoy it’s first winning season until the year he left, Edwards remains an important player in team history.
Next: What Almost Was
3. Eddie Jones
Eddie Jones certainly missed out on championships, but that does not mean he did not deserve them.
The tenth overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft out of Temple University, Jones was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers. He was traded in 1999 to the Charlotte Hornets right before Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal led the team to three-peat championships, and then ended up with Miami in 2000.
He played in 63 games during his first season with the Heat, and averaged 17.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists a game. His numbers would only grow with time too, having to really step up offensively when Alonzo Mourning was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease. In 2002-2003, Jones averaged 18.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists.
Unfortunately, just as before, Jones was traded before getting a chance to help his team bring home a title; in 2005 he went on to play with the Memphis Grizzlies, while Dwyane Wade and the rest of Miami went on to win their first ever championship.
Next: Mr. Michigan State
2. Steve Smith
Nowadays, everyone knows Steve Smith for his work on NBA TV. However, he was also one heck of a shooting guard for Miami.
After finishing his four-years at Michigan State, where he was the all-time leading scorer in school history (2,263 points) and was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001, Smith was drafted fifth overall by the Heat in 1991. Although he only spent a total of three full years (and half a season at the end of his career) in South Beach, he made quite an impact.
Smith started in 59 games his rookie season where he averaged 12 points a game, and the team ended up making it to the playoffs that year. They were swept by the Chicago Bulls in the first round, but Smith still managed to average 16 points a game for that series. He was limited by injuries his second year but managed to increase his scoring average. His third, and last full season with Miami was undoubtedly his best; he averaged 17.3 points a game, and the Heat won their first playoff game in franchise history as the first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks went to five games. Smith led the team in scoring with 19.2, and shot 40 percent from beyond-the-arc.
He returned in 2005, after playing for the Hawks (1994-1999), Portland Trailblazers (1999-2001), San Antonio Spurs (2001-2003), New Orleans Hornets (2003-2004) and the Charlotte Bobcats (2004-2005). Smith played 37 games for the Bobcats (averaging 7.9 points) but was traded midseason to Miami for Malik Allen. That summer, he announced his retirement.
Next: Wade County
1. Dwyane Wade
You knew that was coming, right?
The now 33-year-old NBA veteran was the No. 5 overall pick out of Marquette in 2003, when he was selected by the Heat. Since then, he has yet to play with another team, and has recently signed a new contract with Miami.
What is there really to even say about Wade? Although many people rag on him for constantly missing games and being “too soft” when it comes to sitting out due to injury, this guy is the real deal. He is a three-time NBA champion (2006, 2012, 2013), got NBA Finals MVP in 2006, has been an All-Star eleven times (2005-2015), and received NBA All-Star Game MVP (2010). He is also Miami’s all-time leading scorer, with 18,812 points.
Over his career, Wade has averaged 24.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.7 steals, on 36.2 minutes of play. He has been the face of the franchise practically ever since he was drafted, and has slowly transitioned from a wingman, to a star, and now finally a leader. There has yet to be a better or more successful shooting guard on the Heat, and that will remain the case until Wade retires, if not beyond.