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Top 5 Miami Heat Centers of All Time

By Joseph Zapata

Alonzo Mourning, inductee, leaves the podium after speaking during the 2014 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on August 8, 2014 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Alonzo Mourning, inductee, leaves the podium after speaking during the 2014 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on August 8, 2014 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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5. Chris Andersen

ORLANDO, FL – OCTOBER 13: Chris Andersen #11 of the Miami Heat dunks against Melvin Ejim #7 of the Orlando Magic during a preseason game on October 13, 2015 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – OCTOBER 13: Chris Andersen #11 of the Miami Heat dunks against Melvin Ejim #7 of the Orlando Magic during a preseason game on October 13, 2015 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

I have a feeling this pick will be met with controversy, but let me explain.

There are several Heat centers who posted better per-game averages over their Miami tenures, such as Kevin Willis’ 14 points and 14 rebounds, but Andersen meant a lot more to this franchise than just the numbers in the box score.

When the Big Three first came together, one thing was clear, they had a huge problem at center. Joel Anthony, who has a career 2.3 points per contest average, was the team’s starting center for the entire 2010-11 season. It was obvious that Anthony wasn’t enough for the Heat to make a serious run at a title, but with the contracts of Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James, they didn’t have many options.

Then came along Chris “Birdman” Andersen. He was an athletic freak for his size, but he spent most of his career dealing with substance abuse problems and other off-the-court issues. Signing Andersen came with risks, but it turned out to be one of the most underrated signings in team history.

A lot of people don’t realize Birdman was arguably the fourth-best player on the Heat, during the 2012-13 Finals and playoffs. During that postseason, he averaged 15.2 points and 9.0 rebounds per 36 minutes, all while shooting a league-best 80.7 percent from the field.

Andersen became the perfect pairing with LeBron James, grabbing offensive rebounds and connecting on alley-oops (similar to the role Tristan Thompson played in this past Finals).

Next: To Hassan Be the Glory

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