3. The signings:
If you are a Miami Heat fan, then the summer of 2010 was a blessing. You did not have one, or even two, but you had three All-NBA caliber players and two of which were in the top five. This was the start of the greatest four-year stretch in the franchise’s history.
During that stretch, the Heat had tremendous team success. Imagine your worst win-loss percentage is 65 percent with 54 wins.
Imagine your season is deemed failed if you lose in the finals. Those were the expectations for this team.
Title or bust, but that was the reality for these Heat teams. There is a reason why they were able to win 27 games in a row. Then, in the post-season, it led to four straight finals and two rings.
In addition, we were able to witness one of the greatest teams ever assembled. Before Kevin Durant joined the almighty Golden State Warriors and made that team practically unstoppable, the Heat were that team. In this time, James had one of the greatest regular-seasons of all time, nearly becoming the first unanimous MVP.
Finally, this had a long-lasting impact on the image of the franchise. They were not one-time champions, they were multiple-time champions and that changes everything. Even beyond the tenure with James, free agents want to play in Miami because of that winning culture.
Although this moment led to so many victories, multiple championships, and other great moments, it would not have been possible if it was not for what is next.