1968: Miami Floridians' Inaugural Season
In 1968, Miami was home to the Miami Floridians of the American Basketball Association (ABA).
1972: End of Miami Floridians' time in Miami
In 1972, the Miami Floridians left Miami.
1988: Original Miami Heat uniforms unveiled
In 1988, prior to the 1988-89 season, the original Miami Heat uniforms were unveiled, featuring simple striping on the right side of the jersey and shorts. The home uniforms were white with lettering in red, black and orange trim, while the away uniforms were black with red, white and orange trim.
1988: Number Font Based on 1988-99 Uniforms
In 2023, The "City" uniform number font was based on the 1988–99 uniforms.
1993: WINZ aired Heat games
1995: Most Personal Fouls in Playoff Game
In 2013, in game 2 between Heat and Bulls, The 51 personal fouls were the most in a playoff game since 1995.
1996: WIOD aired Heat games
1997: First Playoff Meeting Between Heat and Magic
In 1997, the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic met in the NBA playoffs for the first time, with Miami winning the series 3-2.
2003: Drafting of Dwyane Wade and Signing of Lamar Odom
In 2003, the Miami Heat drafted Dwyane Wade and signed free agent Lamar Odom.
2003: Drafting of Dwyane Wade
In 2003, the Miami Heat drafted Dwyane Wade, marking a turning point for the team's future success.
2004: Pacers Defeat Heat in Playoffs
In 2004, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Miami Heat 4-2 in the NBA playoffs.
2005: Riley replaces Van Gundy
Due to an 11–10 record early in the 2005–06 season, Pat Riley came out of retirement to replace Stan Van Gundy as the head coach of the Miami Heat.
2005: Miami's 2005 campaign
In 2005, under Stan Van Gundy, the Miami Heat held the top seed in the East, swept their first two playoff opponents, and reached the conference finals.
2006: First NBA Championship
In 2006, led by Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal, and with Pat Riley as head coach, the Miami Heat won their first NBA Championship.
2006: Heat Defeat Bulls in Playoffs and Win NBA Finals
In 2006, the Miami Heat defeated the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the NBA playoffs with a 4-2 series victory and went on to win the NBA Finals.
2006: NBA Championship and Wade's MVP
In 2006, the Miami Heat won the NBA Championship, with Dwyane Wade winning the Finals MVP award.
2006: Heat win their first NBA Championship against the Mavericks
In 2006, the Miami Heat won their first NBA Championship, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the NBA Finals. Dwyane Wade was named the Finals MVP.
2006: Riley wins his fifth championship as head coach
Shortly after returning, in 2006 Pat Riley won his fifth and final championship as a head coach, also securing Miami's first NBA championship.
2006: Mavericks had been defeated in the first round all but one time since the 2006 Finals
Since the 2006 NBA Finals loss to the Heat, the Dallas Mavericks had struggled in the playoffs, being defeated in the first round all but one time, including a defeat the previous season.
2007: First Round Sweep
In 2007, the Miami Heat were swept in the first round of the NBA playoffs by the Chicago Bulls.
2008: Erik Spoelstra becomes Heat head coach
In 2008, Erik Spoelstra, hand-picked by Pat Riley, became the Miami Heat head coach. At 38, he was the youngest head coach in the league and the first Filipino-American head coach in league history.
2008: Celtics Upset Cavaliers in Playoffs
In 2008, the Boston Celtics upset LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs, adding to the rivalry between James and the Celtics.
2008: Celtics' 2008 Championship Run
In the off-season, following Ray Allen's joining of the Heat, Kevin Garnett claimed that he deleted Allen's phone number, while Paul Pierce admitted that it "hurt", though he still considers Allen "a brother to me" for their 2008 championship run.
2009: Wade Scoring Champion
In 2009, Dwyane Wade was the NBA scoring champion.
2010: Wade Wins All-Star MVP
In 2010, Dwyane Wade was the NBA All-Star MVP.
2010: Celtics Upset Cavaliers in Playoffs
In 2010, for the second time, the Boston Celtics upset LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs, adding to the rivalry between James and the Celtics.
2010: The Heat create their own "big three"
In 2010, the Miami Heat acquired LeBron James and Chris Bosh to team up with Dwyane Wade, forming their own "big three" with the expectation of winning a championship.
2010: Formation of the "Big Three"
In 2010, the Miami Heat formed a superteam by signing LeBron James and Chris Bosh to play alongside Dwyane Wade, creating the "Big Three".
2010: Signing of Bosh and James
In 2010, the Miami Heat signed Chris Bosh and LeBron James, starting the "Big 3" era.
2010: Cavaliers off-season
In the 2010 off-season, the Cleveland Cavaliers had to maintain itself without LeBron James, similar to the Heat in 2014.
2010: Rivalry Intensified with Star Players
The rivalry between the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic intensified in 2010 with the rise of Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard, along with Miami's acquisition of LeBron James and Chris Bosh.
December 25, 2011: Heat spoil Mavericks' championship banner-raising night
On December 25, 2011, the Miami Heat spoiled the Dallas Mavericks' championship banner-raising night, defeating them 105–94 in the season opener of the lockout-shortened 2011–12 season.
2011: All-black monochrome uniforms worn
From 2012 to 2014, the Heat wore special monochrome uniforms: an all-black ensemble in the 2011–12 season, an all-white version in the 2012–13 season, and an all-red attire in the 2013–14 season.
2011: Heat Defeat Celtics in Eastern Conference Semifinals
In 2011, the Miami Heat defeated the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, marking a significant victory in their rivalry. The series included several notable incidents, such as Paul Pierce's ejection and Dwyane Wade inadvertently breaking Rajon Rondo's arm.
2011: Heat Win Eastern Conference Finals Against Bulls
In 2011, the Miami Heat faced the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals, winning the series in five games.
2011: NBA Finals Appearance
In 2011, the Miami Heat reached the NBA Finals but lost to the Dallas Mavericks.
2012: All-black monochrome uniforms worn
From 2012 to 2014, the Heat wore special monochrome uniforms: an all-black ensemble in the 2011–12 season, an all-white version in the 2012–13 season, and an all-red attire in the 2013–14 season.
2012: Heat Defeat Celtics En Route to NBA Finals
In 2012, the Miami Heat defeated the Boston Celtics in a closely contested seven-game series in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, ultimately advancing to the NBA Finals. LeBron James had a standout 45-point performance in Game 6.
2012: NBA Championship
In 2012, the Miami Heat, led by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, won the NBA Championship.
2012: Heat win back-to-back championships
Under Erik Spoelstra, the Miami Heat reached four consecutive NBA Finals appearances, winning back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.
May 22, 2013: Heat and Pacers met in the conference finals
On May 22, 2013, the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers met in the conference finals of the 2013 NBA playoffs. The series was marked by physicality, including flagrant fouls and collisions.
2013: Uniforms with player nicknames
During the 2013–14 season, the Miami Heat wore a variation of their current home uniforms, but with the player's names at the back replaced by their nicknames (e.g. 'King James' for LeBron James).
2013: All-white monochrome uniforms worn
From 2012 to 2014, the Heat wore special monochrome uniforms: an all-black ensemble in the 2011–12 season, an all-white version in the 2012–13 season, and an all-red attire in the 2013–14 season.
2013: Pierce Wishes Heat to Lose During Winning Streak
In 2013, during Miami's winning streak, Paul Pierce publicly stated his desire for Miami to lose all of their remaining games. The season opener against Boston included physical altercations and animosity between players.
2013: Heat Play Bulls in Second Round of NBA Playoffs
In 2013, the Miami Heat played the Chicago Bulls in the second round of the NBA playoffs. Game 2 saw the Heat setting a franchise record for the largest margin of victory, while the Bulls set a record for their worst playoff defeat. There were also multiple ejections and technical fouls during the series.
2013: Back-to-Back NBA Championships
In 2013, the Miami Heat, led by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, won their second consecutive NBA Championship.
2013: Heat win back-to-back championships
Under Erik Spoelstra, the Miami Heat reached four consecutive NBA Finals appearances, winning back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.
July 11, 2014: LeBron James Leaves the Heat
On July 11, 2014, LeBron James announced his departure from the Miami Heat to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
2014: Udonis Haslem only player left from either team
As of 2014, Udonis Haslem of the Heat was the only player still left from either team that met in 2004 NBA playoffs.
2014: All-red monochrome uniforms worn
From 2012 to 2014, the Heat wore special monochrome uniforms: an all-black ensemble in the 2011–12 season, an all-white version in the 2012–13 season, and an all-red attire in the 2013–14 season.
2014: Heat eliminated Pacers in Eastern Conference finals
In 2014 NBA playoffs, the Miami Heat eliminated the Indiana Pacers 4-2 in the Eastern Conference finals, advancing to their fourth consecutive NBA Finals during the Big Three era.
2015: Goran and Zoran Dragić join the team
In 2015, Goran Dragić and his younger brother Zoran Dragić joined the Heat.
July 6, 2016: Wade leaves Heat to join Bulls
On July 6, 2016, Dwyane Wade announced his departure from the Miami Heat to join his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls.
September 2016: Bosh fails physical, career with Heat viewed as over
In September 2016, Chris Bosh failed his physical exam with the Heat and was not cleared to participate in training camp. On September 26, 2016, Heat president Riley stated that he viewed Bosh's career with the team as over.
2016: Departure of the "Big Three"
By 2016, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh had all departed from the Miami Heat, leading the team into a period of rebuilding.
2016: Conference Semifinals Loss & Free Agency Issues
In 2016, the Miami Heat's season ended in the Conference semifinals with a loss to the Toronto Raptors. The 2016 free agency was marked with relationship issues and disagreements between Dwyane Wade and Heat president Pat Riley, mostly focusing on Wade's pay.
2016: Variation of all-white uniforms used
In 2016-17 season, a similarly designed white uniform variation of all-black uniforms was used.
July 4, 2017: Heat waives Bosh, to retire jersey
On July 4, 2017, the Heat waived Chris Bosh after an NBA ruling declared his blood clotting issues a career-ending illness. Riley announced Bosh's jersey would be retired in the future.
2017: Switch to Nike as uniform provider
Following the switch to Nike as the uniform provider in the 2017–18 season, the Heat's current uniforms now fall under three categories: "Association" (white), "Icon" (black), and "Statement" (red).
2017: Heat select Bam Adebayo in NBA draft
2017: Special "City" uniforms introduced
In the 2017–18 season, the Miami Heat wore special "City" uniforms that paid homage to the hit 1980s TV series Miami Vice. The uniforms were white with pink, light blue and black trim and featured the "Miami" wordmark inspired from the logo of the Miami Arena.
February 8, 2018: Heat reacquire Dwyane Wade
On February 8, 2018, the Miami Heat acquired Dwyane Wade back from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
March 2019: Bosh's jersey retired
2019: Heat acquired Jimmy Butler, Andre Iguodala, and Jae Crowder
In 2019, Miami acquired All-Star Jimmy Butler, Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder, and drafted Kentucky shooting guard Tyler Herro.
2019: Pink version of the uniform unveiled
In the 2018-19 season, the Miami Heat unveiled a pink version of the Miami Vice uniform as part of Nike's "Earned" series which were exclusive only to the 16 teams that qualified in the 2018 NBA playoffs. A light blue version of the uniforms was used in the 2019–20 season.
February 2020: Wade's jersey retired
In February 2020, Dwyane Wade's Miami Heat jersey was retired.
October 2020: Lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in NBA Finals
In October 2020, the Miami Heat would meet LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, losing in six games.
2020: Heat and Celtics in Eastern Conference Finals
From 2020 to 2023, the Heat and the Celtics faced each other in the Eastern Conference finals. In 2020, the Heat won the first meeting.
2020: Reward after making the 2020 NBA playoffs
Miami's 2021 "Earned" uniform was rewarded after making the 2020 NBA playoffs.
2021: Miami's 2021 "Earned" Uniform
In 2021, Miami's "Earned" uniform marked the first time the team used yellow as a base color. Letters were rendered in black with white trim, and red was not used at all.
2021: Heat lost to Milwaukee Bucks, acquired Kyle Lowry and P.J. Tucker
In 2021, the Miami Heat were swept in a first-round rematch with the Milwaukee Bucks. The 2021 off-season saw the departures of Dragić and Iguodala, along with the acquisition of veteran Kyle Lowry and P.J. Tucker.
2021: Mixed uniform styles used in "City" uniforms
In the 2021–22 season, the Miami Heat wore special "City" uniforms that mixed various uniform styles used by the team. The black-based uniform featured a mix of lettering taken from the Heat's previous and current uniform sets, including the throwback Floridians and Miami Vice "City" set.
August 11, 2022: NBA retires Bill Russell's No. 6
On August 11, 2022, the NBA retired Bill Russell's No. 6 for all its member teams, honoring his legacy.
2022: White version of City uniforms
In the 2021-22 season, a white version of the black-based "City" uniforms served as its 2022–23 "City" uniform.
2023: Heat and Celtics in Eastern Conference Finals
From 2020 to 2023, the Heat and the Celtics faced each other in the Eastern Conference finals. In 2023, the Heat won the third meeting.
2023: NBA Finals Appearance
2024: All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest
In 2024, Jaime Jaquez Jr. wore a modified version of the "HEAT Culture" uniform during the All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest, with "EL HEAT CULTURA" emblazoned in front.
2024: Celtics Beat Heat and Win Championship
In 2024, the Heat and Celtics faced off in the first round, but the Heat were playing without Jimmy Butler, and the Celtics won the championship that year.
2024: Heat Defeat Bulls Again in Play-In Tournament
In 2024, the Miami Heat once again defeated the Chicago Bulls in the Play-In Tournament, earning the 8th seed in the East.
2024: Butler criticized by Riley
In the 2023-24 season, after injuries and inconsistencies with Jimmy Butler, particularly over the previous year, Pat Riley criticized him for his behavior.
February 5, 2025: Butler traded to Golden State Warriors
On February 5, 2025, Jimmy Butler was traded to the Golden State Warriors in a multi-team deal.
February 6, 2025: Roster updated
2025: Trading of Jimmy Butler
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