Big 3
LeBron James Dwyane Wade Chris Bosh The Heat entered NBA Free Agency in 2010 with nearly $46 million in salary cap space, with the ability to re-sign free agent Dwyane Wade, and add two of the NBA's top players, LeBron James and Chris Bosh. On July 7, 2010, Wade and Bosh agreed to terms with the Miami Heat. Then on July 8, 2010, James held an hour-long special to announce his decision on ESPN to commit to playing with the Heat.[6] Later that evening, the Heat announced the trade of Michael Beasley to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a pair of second round picks and cash considerations.[7] On July 8, 2010, it became official that NBA superstars and gold medal winning Beijing Olympic teammates Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh would be joining Miami. The Heat completed sign-and-trade deals, sending a total of four future first-round and two second-round picks to the Cavaliers and Raptors for James and Bosh (both signing 6 years and $110.1 million contracts). Wade re-signed with the Heat for $107.59 million for six years.[8][9][10] The three made their debut at the 2010 Summer Heat Welcome Party at the American Airlines Arena on July 9, where they were introduced as The Three Kings by Heat play-by-play announcer and event co-host Eric Reid.[11] Howard Beck of The New York Times described the national fan reaction to the party: "Everyone saw something: greatness, arrogance, self-indulgence, boldness, cowardice, pride, friendship, collusion, joy, cynicism, heroes, mercenaries.
The Heat began the season with much hype going into their first game against the Eastern Conference Champs, the Boston Celtics. Many considered the Heat as the team to break the single season record of 72 regular season victories set by the Chicago Bulls.[13] On the opening game of the season, broadcast on the TNT Network and featuring the debut of reigning two-time NBA MVP James in a Miami uniform alongside Bosh, the game was the most-watched NBA contest ever on cable television.[14]
The Heat lost the opening game 88–80 and got off to a 9-8 start. Much of the speculation was that Spoelstra could lose his job and that Heat president Pat Riley would return as coach, especially after a well publicized incident when James "bumped" into Spoelstra during a timeout against the Dallas Mavericks.[15] However after a "players only" meeting the team began to gel as they pulled together a 12-game win streak (10 of them by double-digits) and limited the opposition under 100 points in all those games. On January 27, 2011, via fan voting, LeBron James (forward) and Dwyane Wade (guard) were selected to be starters for the Eastern Conference at the All-Star Game becoming the second pair of teammates to be selected as All-Star starters in franchise history (Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade; 2006 and 2007). A few days later, forward Chris Bosh was selected as a reserve, marking the first time in Heat history the team has sent three players to the All-Star game in a single season. The Heat finished with a 58–24 record, third best in team history and a second overall seed, behind the Chicago Bulls who had the NBA's best record. In the NBA Playoffs, Miami defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the First Round, Boston Celtics in the Conference Semifinals, and Bulls in the Conference Finals, all in 5 games respectively. The Heat then reached the 2011 NBA Finals for the first time since 2006 in a rematch against the Dallas Mavericks; they would lose to the Mavericks in six games. Wade averaged 26.5 points and 7.0 rebounds, the highest scorer on the team, while James averaged 17.8 points, and 7.1 rebounds which was the largest drop off in points from a regular season to an NBA Finals in NBA history.
During the off-season, the Bulls drafted Norris Cole 28th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, but in a series of draft night deals, his rights were subsequently traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who then dealt him to the Heat. After the NBA Lockout ended, the Heat would improve their roster by signing veteran Shane Battier and Eddy Curry. in the shorten 2011-12 season the Heat got off to a 27-7 start, and for the second year in a row, Wade, James, and Bosh were all selected to the NBA All-Star Game, however they would struggle for the second half of the season going 19-13. The Heat finished 46–20 earning the second overall seed in the NBA Playoffs. They defeated the New York Knicks in five games in the First Round. In the Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers the Heat's championship aspirations would take a huge blow after Chris Bosh went down with a lower abdominal strain injury in a game 1 victory.
The Heat began the season with much hype going into their first game against the Eastern Conference Champs, the Boston Celtics. Many considered the Heat as the team to break the single season record of 72 regular season victories set by the Chicago Bulls.[13] On the opening game of the season, broadcast on the TNT Network and featuring the debut of reigning two-time NBA MVP James in a Miami uniform alongside Bosh, the game was the most-watched NBA contest ever on cable television.[14]
The Heat lost the opening game 88–80 and got off to a 9-8 start. Much of the speculation was that Spoelstra could lose his job and that Heat president Pat Riley would return as coach, especially after a well publicized incident when James "bumped" into Spoelstra during a timeout against the Dallas Mavericks.[15] However after a "players only" meeting the team began to gel as they pulled together a 12-game win streak (10 of them by double-digits) and limited the opposition under 100 points in all those games. On January 27, 2011, via fan voting, LeBron James (forward) and Dwyane Wade (guard) were selected to be starters for the Eastern Conference at the All-Star Game becoming the second pair of teammates to be selected as All-Star starters in franchise history (Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade; 2006 and 2007). A few days later, forward Chris Bosh was selected as a reserve, marking the first time in Heat history the team has sent three players to the All-Star game in a single season. The Heat finished with a 58–24 record, third best in team history and a second overall seed, behind the Chicago Bulls who had the NBA's best record. In the NBA Playoffs, Miami defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the First Round, Boston Celtics in the Conference Semifinals, and Bulls in the Conference Finals, all in 5 games respectively. The Heat then reached the 2011 NBA Finals for the first time since 2006 in a rematch against the Dallas Mavericks; they would lose to the Mavericks in six games. Wade averaged 26.5 points and 7.0 rebounds, the highest scorer on the team, while James averaged 17.8 points, and 7.1 rebounds which was the largest drop off in points from a regular season to an NBA Finals in NBA history.
During the off-season, the Bulls drafted Norris Cole 28th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, but in a series of draft night deals, his rights were subsequently traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who then dealt him to the Heat. After the NBA Lockout ended, the Heat would improve their roster by signing veteran Shane Battier and Eddy Curry. in the shorten 2011-12 season the Heat got off to a 27-7 start, and for the second year in a row, Wade, James, and Bosh were all selected to the NBA All-Star Game, however they would struggle for the second half of the season going 19-13. The Heat finished 46–20 earning the second overall seed in the NBA Playoffs. They defeated the New York Knicks in five games in the First Round. In the Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers the Heat's championship aspirations would take a huge blow after Chris Bosh went down with a lower abdominal strain injury in a game 1 victory.