Miami Heat: The Story of Rony Seikaly and His Incredible Journey
By Jarrod Mains
Rony Seikaly’s Miami Heat Career Tips Off
Miami Heats Up
In the team’s first year of existence, Rony Seikaly was chosen ninth overall in the 1988 NBA Draft, becoming the first player drafted in franchise history. He played for the Miami Heat from 1988 to 1994, averaging 14.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game across his 11-year career.
Seikaly told Charlotte – who was picking #8 before the Heat in draft – that if they drafted him, he may end up playing pro ball in Greece. Obviously, he wanted nothing to do with the City of Charlotte, as he knew upon his first visit to Miami that South Florida was the place for him.
Many would say Seikaly was an undersized Center at the time, standing “just” 6 feet 10 inches tall. He would have been a power forward on most NBA teams but the Heat needed a Center and that is where he played.
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While his career stats are not completely over-impressive, many remember “The Spin Doctor” as a double double machine! Seikaly is still third all-time in Miami Heat history for free throws made and total rebounds, fourth all-time in career blocks, sixth in Miami Heat history for points scored, and remains in the Top 10 for games, field goals, and minutes played in franchise history.
Of course, Alonzo Mourning remains at the top of some of these categories but some would venture to argue Rony Seikaly could be the Heat’s second best Center of all-time!
Seikaly entered the league in Michael Jordan’s prime, facing him several times each year including some postseason series. His best game vs MJ and the Bulls came on March 11, 1993, scoring 30 points while grabbing 23 rebounds.
Seikaly earned the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award his second season,1989-90, leading the team in points, rebounds, and blocked shots. Rony even had 40 points and 17 rebounds in a game that season against the Bulls.
He also went for 31 points and 21 boards against the Magic that year as well. The guy was a monster in the paint.
Seikaly’s post-moves were ahead of his time, showing great footwork and quickness rarely seen in big men those days. He possessed a rare combination of strength, size and quickness along with a soft shooting touch.
He was great at drawing fouls and knocking down his free throws after he earned them. He loved using spin moves in the post so much that fans dubbed him “The Spin Doctor”, which still feels relevant nowadays as he travels the world as a prominent DJ spinning his own unique blend of house music.