Although the Miami Heat won’t participate, the organization has typically performed well at All-Star Weekend. So what can Heat fans look forward to this year?
The All-Star weekend is upon us and unlike the previous years, this year the Miami Heat won’t participate in any of the All-Star festivities. An odd sight after seeing so many All-Star selections from Miami over the years. This year they will endure a much-needed break while many fans will bask in the three-day, action-packed events starting Friday afternoon.
In 2008, East took home the win after a close competitive game over the West resulting in a 134-128 finale. Six years later, back in New Orleans, the East once again dominated in another close and action packed game with a 163-155 win over the West. In fact, the last time New Orleans hosted the All-Star game was the last time we saw the “Big 3” of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh as members of the Miami Heat. Since then the West have dominated the All-Star Games.
Heat’s All-Star History
Ever since Miami joined the NBA, Heat players have flooded the All-Star game with a total of 33 Heat players that have been honored to participate in the yearly All-Star event. The most notable ones are actually the combination of James earning four appearances with Miami (13 overall), Bosh with six (11 overall) while Wade leading the way with most All-Star games in a Heat uniform, 12 overall in his career.
Besides the All-Star Game, the whole weekend is filled with different skills and shooting competitions that culminate the essence of the All-Star weekend. Most notably the three-point shootout and the slam dunk competition. Although we have only had three participants in the slam dunk competition, we have shined briefly in the three-point shootout. Since 1995, we have had fur champions win the shootout. Glen Rice won the gold back in 1995 followed by Jason Kapono, Daequan Cook, and the latest James Jones winning the contest back in 2011.
This year none of the active rosters is attending, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t hype leading up the competition.
I'll go if @youngwhiteside is in the dunk contest!! Lol 😂 #HeatIsOn https://t.co/9UaelK6Ctc
— Goran Dragić (@Goran_Dragic) February 7, 2017
Name a starting PG shooting a better % from 3 this season than @Goran_Dragic 🤔 put him in the 3 point contest 👀 he had 7-9 from 3 tonight!
— Hassan Whiteside (@youngwhiteside) February 7, 2017
This friendly camaraderie alludes to both Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside’s strong seasons. Maybe they aren’t considered snubs, but they could’ve given the competition a run for their money. Dragic is shooting close to 44 percent from three with four attempts per game. Whiteside is leading the league in rebounds while attempting second chance dunks, so we all know both would’ve been perfect candidates for the weekend.
Despite their lack of nominations, everyone should tune in this weekend to catch all the festivities.
Below is a list of all the past selections and winners from both the Dunk and the 3-point shootout.
Miami Heat Three Point Competition Selections and Winners
Mario Chalmers 2011-2012
James Jones 2011-2012
James Jones 2010-2011–*Champion
Daequan Cook 2009-2010
Daequan Cook 2008-2009–*Champion
Jason Kapono 2006-2007–*Champion
Glen Rice 1994-1995–*Champion
Glen Rice 1990-1991
Jon Sundvoid 1989-1990
Jon Sundvoid 1988-1989
Miami Heat Dunk Contest Selections and Winners
Harold Miner 1994-1995–*Champion
Harold Miner 1992-1993–*Champion
Billy Thompson 1989-1990