Founded in 1988, the Miami Heat perhaps do not have the same amount of history as some of the biggest names in the NBA, such as the Boston Celtics or LA Lakers.
However, they have still had the success of three championships, with some big players leading them to those major titles.
As a result, the Heat has retired the jerseys of six of their most legendary players, while LeBron James’ number is expected to be retired after he finishes his career.
Here, we have looked into each of those six players.
#1. Chris Bosh
Bosh was on the Heat team that won back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013, forming a legendary trio with LeBron and Dwyane Wade.
Those were his second and third seasons as a Heat player, and he was an All-Star not only in those seasons, but in each of the six seasons he played with them.
Bosh played over 300 games with the franchise and had his No.1 jersey retired in 2019, a few years after his retirement.
#3. Dwyane Wade
The reasons for Wade’s jersey retirement cannot be disputed, as he is quite clearly the biggest legend in Heat history.
Wade is the Heat’s career leader in: games, minutes, field goals, points, assists, steals, free throws and more metrics.
He played for the Heat in 15 out of his 16 years in the league, and was on the roster for all three of their championships. Wade was an All-Star and finished in the top 10 for MVP votes in each of those three seasons.
He was named an All-Star in 13 years with the Heat and played more than 900 games there. The year following, his 2019 retirement saw Wade’s No.3 jersey lifted up to the rafters in a long celebration of his career.
#10. Tim Hardaway
Hardaway played just five and a half seasons with the Heat, after being traded from the Golden State Warriors in 1995-96.
In that time, he played more than 350 games, twice finished in the top six in MVP voting, in back-to-back seasons, while also being named an All-Star in both of those seasons.
His No.10 jersey being retired in 2009 was one of the first jersey retirements in Heat history.
#32. Shaquille O’Neal
One of the most dominant players in NBA history, Shaq’s achievements are highlighted by his jersey being retired at three separate teams: the Heat, Orlando Magic and LA Lakers.
Though he spent just three and a half years with the Heat, O’Neal had a huge impact, winning a championship in 2006, a year after he’d finished second in MVP voting in his first season with the franchise.
O’Neal was an All-Star in three seasons with the Heat, and his No.32 jersey was retired in 2016, a few years after his own retirement.
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#33. Alonzo Mourning
Mourning played seven seasons with the Heat, before he left for the then-New Jersey Nets for a season and a half, and then rejoined the Heat for the final three-and-a-half years of his career.
Mourning was named an All-Star in five of his Heat seasons, and won defensive player of the year for the league in 1998-99 and 1999-00.
He’s the Heat’s career leader in blocks, and in his first full season back on the roster in the final years of his career, helped the franchise to their first NBA title.
In 2009, a year after his retirement from the game, Mourning’s No.33 jersey became the first to be retired by the Heat.
#40. Udonis Haslem
Haslem played all of his 20-year NBA career with the Heat, featuring in close to 900 games.
Though he won no personal accolades, he was wholly committed to the side throughout his long playing career which ran until he was 42 years old.
Haslem was on the roster for all three of the Heat’s championships, and at the back end of his career, he only played a handful of games per season, essentially acting as a mentor for other players.
In January 2024, the year after his retirement, Haslem’s No.40 jersey was retired, and he’s the most recent Heat player to be given that honour.
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