Ranking the 15 most underrated players in Miami Heat history

Jun 19 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat point guard Mario Chalmers (15)lays the ball up between Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Nick Collison (4) and James Harden (13) during the second half of game four in the 2012 NBA Finals at the American Airlines Arena. Miami won 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Larry W. Smith/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports /

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Miami Heat P.J. Brown (RHONA WISE/AFP via Getty Images) /

12. P.J. Brown (1996-00)

During the 1996 NBA offseason, the Miami Heat signed P.J. Brown after he spent the first three seasons of his career with the New Jersey Nets. With the Heat, Brown quickly emerged as one of the best interior defenders and role players in the league. It didn’t take long for Brown to win the starting spot with the Heat. During his four seasons in Miami, Brown would go on to start every game he played in, but nine games, for the team.

In the 1998-99 season, Brown had arguably the best season of his career with the Heat. He averaged 11 points and seven rebounds on 48 percent shooting from the field. During his stint in Miami, he helped the team make the playoffs our straight seasons. During the 1996-97 season, Miami lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls. Brown was a key contributor to the Heat but often doesn’t get his full praise during those four seasons.

Brown would go on to have a long career in the NBA, even after his time with the Heat. Overall, Brown played 15 seasons in the NBA with six different teams. He finally won that elusive NBA championship during his final season in the league with the Boston Celtics in 2008.

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