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Miami Heat: A season review of Heat Nation in 2017-18

By Brandon Johnson

MIAMI, FL - APRIL 21: Fan holds a sign during the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 21: Fan holds a sign during the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – APRIL 21: Fan holds a sign during the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – APRIL 21: Fan holds a sign during the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Miami Heat’s fan base is a group worth studying.

Decorating the chests of every Miami Heat fan is an invisible emblem that reads “Heat pride”.

One of the NBA’s youngest teams, having started play in 1988-89 season, the Heat have earned a loyal fan following. By just their third season, the Heat were contending for champioships.

Ok, not really.

But the 1991-92 season marked the first time Miami played playoff basketball. Led by Glen Rice and bolstered by Rony Seikaly, the Heat fell to Michael Jordan and the eventually champion Chicago Bulls.

With their first playoff appearance, Heat fans ushered in a winning culture. 1996-97 saw Miami’s first Conference Finals as Heat Nation galvanized around another group of All-Star talent in Tim Hardaway and Alonzo Mourning.

This winning culture extends itself through Miami’s entire history.

Welcoming a variety of All-NBA talent and top-tier coaches has led the Heat to familiarize themselves with national prominence, missing the playoffs just 10 times in their 30 seasons of play.

However, in the four years since LeBron James departed from Miami International Airport for Cleveland, Ohio, Heat fans have steadily lost the national stage. The “Miami” signature that was once regularly plastered on championship gear and networks like ESPN and TNT has since been replaced by blue-yellow tinted “Golden State” emblems.

It’s not that Miami’s fans have jumped ship, rather they lost the platform that inundated the league with cries of “Let’s go Heat.”

Not including playoff games, the Miami Heat earned just 10 nationally televised games to start 2017-18. Down from 13 a season prior, Miami was one the wrong side of the mass media.

Without a star player, Miami simply faded away despite having 27 nationally televised games in 2013-14, the last season with James.

Since taking a backseat from the televised games and deep playoff runs, I’ve learned more about the Heat fan base than I thought possible. Now, without the trickery of title runs, I more clearly see the good (and bad) of Heat Nation and have come to this conclusion…

You guys are a wild bunch.

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