Florida news: Miami Heat history profile, part three – 2015 to 2025

Part one of this article series looked at the early years of the Miami Heat, from inauguration to their first-ever NBA Championship in 2006, while part two focused on the team’s modern era, featuring two NBA Championships and the services of superstar LeBron James.

In this article, Florida News Blitz writer Oliver Carter takes a look at the recent history of the franchise, from the loss of the famed Big Three to the signing of Jimmy Butler and a pair of NBA Finals appearances.

Post-LeBron era off to a shaky start

Following an incredible four years in Miami, LeBron – the kid from Akron – decided to return to his home state of Ohio by rejoining the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The loss of the best basketball player in the world paired with the retirement of Ray Allen saw the Heat fall out of the play-off picture in 2015, although the notable acquisitions of Hassan Whiteside and Goran Dragić offered hope for the future.

2016 saw the Heat return to the play-offs with a team consisting of Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Whiteside, Dragić, and Luol Deng.

Miami overcame the Charlotte Bobcats 4-3 in the first round before being eliminated 4-3 by the Toronto Raptors.

Sadly, blood clots forced Bosh into an early retirement during the off season and a falling out between Wade and executive Pat Riley saw the best player in Miami Heat history depart the team.

Wade subsequently joined his hometown franchise the Chicago Bulls, leaving behind a legacy of three NBA Championships in Miami.

The loss of those two high-profile players plunged the Heat into obscurity and they only made the play-offs once in the next three years.

Wade would eventually return and spend the last two seasons of his career in Miami before retiring in the 2019 off season.

MORE FROM OLIVER CARTER: Florida news: Miami Heat history profile part one - 1988 - 2006

A new legend arrives in Miami

Following the retirement of Wade, the Heat moved to plug the gap with disgruntled Philadelphia 76ers star Butler.

The 2019-20 season was then curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the implementation of a so-called ‘NBA Bubble’ saw the play-offs able to take place.

Bam Adebayo and Butler were incredible for Miami, leading the Heat to the NBA Finals alongside rookie Tyler Herro, the latter earning the nickname ‘Boy Wonder’ in the process.

The Heat swept the Indiana Pacers 4-0, comfortably beat the Milwaukee Bucks 4-1, and overcame the Boston Celtics 4-2, with Butler particularly impressive throughout.

Butler gained even more praise in the NBA Finals when he stood up tall against the Los Angeles Lakers and star man LeBron James, becoming the first-ever player to have more points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals than James in a finals match-up.

Unfortunately, his efforts weren’t quite enough as the Heat lost 4-2.

The next season was underwhelming for Miami, with a first-round play-off exit to the Bucks ending proceedings.

During the off season, the Heat signed free agents Caleb Martin and Max Strus, who would both go on to become unsung heroes in Miami.

The 2021-22 campaign saw Miami finish with the best record in the Eastern Conference, installing them as one of the favourites to win the Championship.

After beating the Atlanta Hawks 4-1 and the 76ers 4-2, they faced the Celtics.

Butler was incredible all series, most notably with a 41-point game one and 47-point game six, but the Celtics were too good and triumphed 4-3.

Making history against all odds

The 2022-23 season was an underwhelming one for Miami, the franchise dropping down to seventh seed and having to fight through the play-in tournament to secure a spot in the play-offs.

Miami lost to the Hawks 116-105 to set up a meeting with the Bulls, where two incredible 31-point performances from Butler and Max Strus helped the Heat into the play-offs.

Top seeds Milwaukee and their two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo awaited.

Once again, Butler was unstoppable, racking up a 56-point game three – the fourth-highest scoring game in play-off history – and leading Miami to a 4-1 series victory.

A battling 4-2 win over the New York Knicks followed before a clash with the Celtics.

Although Boston were the overwhelming favourites, Miami shocked the NBA by jumping out to a 3-0 series lead.

The Celtics staged a comeback to level the series at 3-3, but game seven was a blowout in Miami’s favour as they became just the second-ever eighth seed and first-ever play-in participant to reach the NBA Finals.

Caleb Martin, an undersized power forward who had averaged just 9.6 points and 4.8 rebounds in the regular season, averaged 19.3 points and 6.4 rebounds over the series in a particularly impressive display.

The Conference Finals MVP award, meanwhile, went to Butler despite his injury.

Miami faced two-time MVP Nikola Jokić and his Denver Nuggets team in the NBA Finals and that is where the fairytale ended as the Nuggets dominated the series on the way to winning 4-1.

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Recent struggles and Butler trade

After their great performances, Strus and Gabe Vincent were due a pay rise, but Miami were constrained by the salary cap, so Strus decamped to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Vincent switched coasts to join the Lakers.

Thanks in part to the hole left by those two players, Miami had another mediocre regular season in 2023-24 and ended up back in the play-in tournament.

A loss to the 76ers in which Butler suffered a sprained MCL, ending his season, preceded a win over the Bulls for the second year in a row.

Miami once again met Boston in the first round, but the Heat had no chance without Butler and lost 4-1.

Martin then signed for the 76ers in another big loss for the Heat.

Tensions began brewing between Butler and Riley during the 2024-25 season, and the former requested a trade out of the franchise.

Months of back and forth eventually saw Butler head to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson.

The Heat spiralled following the Butler trade, winning just four games and losing 16 on the way to ending the campaign as the 10th seed.

With a record of 37-45, it was Miami’s first losing season since 2018-19.

The Heat fought through the play-in once again, eliminating the Hawks and – for the third year in a row – knocking out the Bulls.

After clinching the eighth seed, the Heat faced the Cavaliers and were duly embarrassed, losing 4-0, including by a cumulative 92 points in the last two games of the series.

This brings us to the present: following the Butler trade and embarrassment at the hands of Cleveland, the Heat are in serious need of some re-tooling to contend once again.

However, you can be sure that this great franchise will be back amongst the best sooner rather than later.

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