The best 5 Miami Heat fantasy basketball seasons
We take a look at the best individual seasons in Miami Heat history based on fantasy stats.
The Miami Heat have been an extremely successful franchise since they arrived in the NBA in 1988. Since then, we’ve seen three championships and plenty of other successful seasons. Coinciding with the Heat’s rise to prominence, has been the fantasy sports era. Bringing those two worlds together in this list, we’ll be looking at the five greatest fantasy seasons in Heat history.
Before I begin the list, I want to preface it by saying the metric used was FanDuel’s scoring system, because it allowed for a more detailed look at how impactful each guy was in their specified season. The scoring awards:
2 points for each 2 point shot
3 points for each 3 point shot
1 point for each free throw
1.2 points for each rebound
1.5 points for each assists
2 points for each block and steal
-1 point for each turnover
With that out of the way, let’s begin the list.
Honorable Mention: Dwyane Wade, 2009-10.
Wade’s 2009-10 season, which saw him lead the Miami Heat to the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, was a very underrated year in Wade’s career. He scored 2,045 scoring points (good for second most in his career), grabbed 373 rebounds, dished 501 assists, swiped the ball 142 times, blocked 82 shots, and turned the ball over 252 times. Included in his scoring totals, were 646 made two-point shots, 73 three-point shots, and 534 free throws. The stats add up to 3,440.1 total points, which landed 10 points out of the top five spots.
5. Dwyane Wade, 2005-06.
Coming in at number five, is the 2005-06 season of Wade. Wade was already on his way to stardom before the Finals that made him a legend. In this season, which was just his third, he finished with 2,040 scoring points (686 two-pointers, 13 three-pointers, and 629 free throws). In addition, he racked up 430 rebounds, 503 assists, 146 steals, 58 blocks, and 268 turnovers. Bringing his grand total to 3,450.5. The most amazing part of this is that he was able to have such an amazing season with only 13 made three pointers.
4. LeBron James, 2013-14.
In the four spot, is LeBron’s last season with the Miami Heat. James was coming off of back-to-back NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP seasons, as well as a couple years removed from his Olympic Gold Medal season, so burnout (or preservation, depending on who you ask) was a polarizing topic surrounding James. Still, he finished with 2,089 scoring points (651 two-pointers, 116 three-pointers, and 439 free throws made), 533 rebounds, 488 assists, 121 steals, 26 blocks, and 270 turnovers. His grand point total for the season was 3,489.6.
3. LeBron James, 2010-11.
At number three, is season number one for LeBron with the Miami Heat. The most circus-like season ever in the team’s history, was could arguably be LeBron’s best (minus the championships). Many to this day still feel like he was robbed of MVP because of voter fatigue. He finished with 2,111 scoring points (666 two-pointers made, 92 three-pointers made, and 503 free throws made). He also grabbed 590 rebounds, passed out 554 assists, amassed 124 steals, blocked 50 shots, and turned the ball over 284 times. His total points for the season was 3,714.
2. LeBron James, 2012-13.
We, as Miami Heat fans, got to witness the best season in one of the two greatest player’s ever night after night, and I still don’t think that it’s appreciated to this day. He scored 2,036 points (662 two-point field goals, 103 three-pointers made, and 403 free throws). In addition to 610 rebounds, 551 assists, 129 steals, 67 blocks, and 226 turnovers, James was able to amass 3,760.5 total points in the season.
Next: The top 10 Heat players of this decade
1. Dwyane Wade, 2008-09
When the story of Wade is finally written, this season may be one of the more overlooked of his career. He had a very serious case for NBA MVP and in some people’s eyes, he should have won. He scored 2,386 points (766 two-pointers, 88 three-pointers, and 590 free throws). He also finished the year with 398 rebounds, 589 assists, 173 steals, 106 blocks, and 272 turnovers. Those numbers came to a total of 4033.1, almost 300 points better than the next Heat fantasy season.