1995–96 Miami Heat season explained

The 1995–96 Miami Heat season was the eighth season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association.[1] The Heat received the tenth overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft, and selected power forward Kurt Thomas out of Texas Christian University,[2] [3] [4] and acquired Rex Chapman from the Washington Bullets during the off-season.[5] [6] [7] Under new head coach, and team president Pat Riley, the Heat would be restructured;[8] [9] [10] on the first day of the regular season, which began on November 3, 1995, the team acquired All-Star center Alonzo Mourning from the Charlotte Hornets.[11] [12] [13]

With the addition of Mourning, the Heat won 11 of their first 14 games of the regular season, but then lost 23 of their next 34 games, holding a 22–26 at the All-Star break.[14] Riley continued to make changes as he would make three more deals at the trading deadline; the team traded Kevin Willis and Bimbo Coles to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for All-Star guard Tim Hardaway and Chris Gatling,[15] [16] [17] while trading Billy Owens and Kevin Gamble to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Walt Williams and Tyrone Corbin, and then trading rookie points guard Terrence Rencher to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Tony Smith.[15] [18] [19]

The flurry of deadline deals led to one of the most remarkable wins of the season, as the Heat only had eight players available to face the Chicago Bulls at the Miami Arena on February 23, 1996, but won 113–104, thanks mainly to a 39-point game by Chapman (this was one of only 10 losses the Bulls suffered on their way to a then-record 72-win season).[20] [21] [22] The team also signed free agents Jeff Malone, who was previously released by the Philadelphia 76ers, and rookie shooting guard Voshon Lenard, who previously played in the Continental Basketball Association.[23]

With the addition of Hardaway, the Heat played above .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the regular season, winning 10 of their 14 games in March, and then winning five of their final seven games. The team finished in third place in the Atlantic Division with a 42–40 record, which earned them the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, as they qualified for their third NBA playoff appearance.[24] [25]

Mourning averaged 23.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game, while Hardaway averaged 17.2 points, 10.0 assists and 2.1 steals per game in 28 games after the trade, and Gatling played a sixth man role off the bench, as he provided the team with 15.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in 24 games. In addition, Chapman contributed 14.0 points per game, and led the Heat with 125 three-point field goals, but only played 56 games due to an Achilles tendon injury,[26] [27] [28] while rookie shooting guard Sasha Danilovic contributed 13.4 points per game, but only played just 19 games due to a wrist injury,[29] [30] Williams averaged 12.0 points per game in 28 games, Thomas provided with 9.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, and Keith Askins contributed 6.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.[31]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Mourning was selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team,[32] [33] [34] while Thomas was selected for the NBA Rookie Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference Rookie team.[35] [36] Mourning also finished in 14th place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Gatling finished tied in seventh place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.[37]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1996 NBA playoffs, the Heat faced off against the top–seeded, and Central Division champion Bulls, who were led by the trio of All-Star guard, and Most Valuable Player of the Year, Michael Jordan, All-Star forward Scottie Pippen, and rebound-specialist Dennis Rodman. The Heat lost the first two games to the Bulls on the road at the United Center, before losing Game 3 at home, 112–91 at the Miami Arena, thus losing the series in a three-game sweep.[38] [39] [40] The Bulls would defeat the Seattle SuperSonics in six games in the 1996 NBA Finals, winning their fourth NBA championship in six years.[41] [42] [43]

The Heat finished 25th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 606,088 at the Miami Arena during the regular season, which was the fifth-lowest in the league.[31] [44] Following the season, Chapman signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns,[45] [46] [47] while Williams signed with the Toronto Raptors,[48] [49] [50] Gatling signed with the Dallas Mavericks,[51] [52] [53] Corbin signed with the Atlanta Hawks,[54] [55] Smith signed with the Charlotte Hornets,[56] and Malone retired.

For the season, the Heat added new red alternate road uniforms, which would remain in use until 1999.[57]

Offseason

NBA draft

See main article: 1995 NBA draft.

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalitySchool/Club team
110Kurt ThomasPF/CTCU
246George BanksFUTEP

Regular season

Schedule

Game Date Opponent Result Heat points Opponents Record Streak OT
1 November 4 Win 85 71 1-0 Won 1
2 November 8 Win 89 82 2-0 Won 2
3 November 10 Win 106 80 3-0 Won 3
4 November 11 Loss 93 94 3-1 Lost 1
5 November 15 Loss 97 103 3-2 Lost 2
6 November 17 Win 91 88 4-2 Won 1
7 November 18 Win 93 90 5-2 Won 2
8 November 22 Win 103 93 6-2 Won 3
9 November 24 Loss 94 110 6-3 Lost 1
10 November 25 Win 111 91 7-3 Won 1
11 November 28 Win 111 89 8-3 Won 2
12 November 30 Win 118 107 9-3 Won 3
13 December 1 Win 108 101 10-3 Won 4 OT
14 December 3 Win 112 94 11-3 Won 5
15 December 4 Loss 120 121 11-4 Lost 1 2OT
16 December 6 Loss 101 105 11-5 Lost 2
17 December 9 Win 94 92 12-5 Won 1
18 December 10 Loss 90 110 12-6 Lost 1
19 December 12 Loss 80 105 12-7 Lost 2
20 December 14 Loss 84 89 12-8 Lost 3
21 December 16 Loss 74 83 12-9 Lost 4
22 December 19 Loss 70 89 12-10 Lost 5
23 December 20 Win 112 104 13-10 Won 1 OT
24 December 22 Loss 75 84 13-11 Lost 1
25 December 23 Loss 75 87 13-12 Lost 2
26 December 26 Win 96 93 14-12 Won 1
27 December 28 Loss 77 91 14-13 Lost 1
28 December 30 Win 105 96 15-13 Won 1
29 January 4 Loss 81 84 15-14 Lost 1
30 January 6 Win 88 86 16-14 Won 1
31 January 8 Loss 92 94 16-15 Lost 1
32 January 10 Loss 89 90 16-16 Lost 2
33 January 12 Loss 81 113 16-17 Lost 3
34 January 13 Loss 65 69 16-18 Lost 4
35 January 15 Loss 88 96 16-19 Lost 5
36 January 17 Win 96 89 17-19 Won 1
37 January 19 Loss 106 114 17-20 Lost 1
38 January 20 Loss 78 98 17-21 Lost 2
39 January 22 Win 96 89 18-21 Won 1
40 January 24 Loss 79 88 18-22 Lost 1
41 January 26 Loss 80 102 18-23 Lost 2
42 January 27 Win 102 85 19-23 Won 1
43 January 29 Loss 85 94 19-24 Lost 1
44 January 30 Loss 99 114 19-25 Lost 2
45 February 1 Win 124 104 20-25 Won 1
46 February 3 Loss 99 100 20-26 Lost 1
47 February 5 Win 103 92 21-26 Won 1
48 February 7 Win 101 89 22-26 Won 2
49 February 13 Loss 87 98 22-27 Lost 1
50 February 15 Win 97 91 23-27 Won 1
51 February 17 Loss 93 95 23-28 Lost 1
52 February 19 Loss 70 73 23-29 Lost 2
53 February 21 Win 66 57 24-29 Won 1
54 February 23 Win 113 104 25-29 Won 2
55 February 25 Win 108 101 26-29 Won 3
56 February 27 Win 93 90 27-29 Won 4
57 February 28 Loss 112 116 27-30 Lost 1
58 March 1 Loss 88 102 27-31 Lost 2
59 March 3 Loss 87 89 27-32 Lost 3
60 March 5 Win 113 72 28-32 Won 1
61 March 8 Win 109 79 29-32 Won 2
62 March 10 Win 88 81 30-32 Won 3
63 March 12 Win 125 118 31-32 Won 4
64 March 14 Loss 100 120 31-33 Lost 1
65 March 16 Win 121 97 32-33 Won 1
66 March 20 Win 102 93 33-33 Won 2
67 March 22 Win 122 106 34-33 Won 3
68 March 24 Win 111 95 35-33 Won 4
69 March 27 Loss 95 106 35-34 Lost 1
70 March 29 Win 112 93 36-34 Won 1
71 March 30 Win 95 85 37-34 Won 2
72 April 2 Loss 92 110 37-35 Lost 1
73 April 4 Loss 92 100 37-36 Lost 2
74 April 6 Loss 95 99 37-37 Lost 3
75 April 8 Loss 99 111 37-38 Lost 4
76 April 10 Win 116 95 38-38 Won 1
77 April 11 Win 115 105 39-38 Won 2
78 April 13 Win 103 95 40-38 Won 3
79 April 15 Win 110 90 41-38 Won 4
80 April 17 Loss 86 90 41-39 Lost 1
81 April 19 Win 106 100 42-39 Won 1
82 April 21 Loss 92 104 42-40 Lost 1

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 26| @ Chicago| L 85–102| Tim Hardaway (30)| Chris Gatling (9)| Tim Hardaway (7)| United Center
24,104| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 28| @ Chicago| L 75–106| Sasha Danilovic (15)| Chris Gatling (11)| Tim Hardaway (4)| United Center
24,202| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| May 1| Chicago| L 91–112| Alonzo Mourning (30)| Mourning, Thomas (8)| Tim Hardaway (6)| Miami Arena
15,200| 0–3|-

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player
SF75 14 1,897 324 121 48 61 458 25.3 4.3 1.6 .6 .8 6.1
PF74 42 1,655 439 46 47 36 666 22.4 5.9 .6 .6 .5 9.0
C70 70 2,671 727 159 70 189 1,623 38.2 10.4 2.3 1.0 2.7 23.2
SG56 50 1,865 145 166 45 10 786 33.3 2.6 3.0 .8 .2 14.0
†PG52 52 1,882 201 296 63 12 664 36.2 3.9 5.7 1.2 .2 12.8
†PF47 42 1,357 420 34 19 25 479 28.9 8.9 .7 .4 .5 10.2
†SF44 13 1,033 86 82 31 5 305 23.5 2.0 1.9 .7 .1 6.9
†SF40 40 1,388 286 134 30 22 590 34.7 7.2 3.4 .8 .6 14.8
†SG39 1 639 73 97 14 11 184 16.4 1.9 2.5 .4 .3 4.7
†PG34 1 397 42 54 16 1 103 11.7 1.2 1.6 .5 .0 3.0
C32 6 399 89 9 11 16 101 12.5 2.8 .3 .3 .5 3.2
SG30 0 323 52 31 6 1 176 10.8 1.7 1.0 .2 .0 5.9
†PG28 28 1,047 98 280 58 6 482 37.4 3.5 10.0 2.1 .2 17.2
†SF28 28 788 112 65 32 16 337 28.1 4.0 2.3 1.1 .6 12.0
†SG25 1 410 39 68 16 5 109 16.4 1.6 2.7 .6 .2 4.4
†PF24 0 565 175 17 17 11 365 23.5 7.3 .7 .7 .5 15.2
†SF22 0 354 65 23 16 3 101 16.1 3.0 1.0 .7 .1 4.6
SG19 18 542 46 47 15 3 255 28.5 2.4 2.5 .8 .2 13.4
†PF18 3 235 36 10 8 1 43 13.1 2.0 .6 .4 .1 2.4
PF15 0 156 23 2 7 2 38 10.4 1.5 .1 .5 .1 2.5
C12 1 74 8 4 2 3 13 6.2 .7 .3 .2 .3 1.1
†SG7 0 103 8 7 3 0 31 14.7 1.1 1.0 .4 .0 4.4

Playoffs

Player
PG3 3 110 5 17 3 0 53 36.7 1.7 5.7 1.0 .0 17.7
C3 3 92 18 4 2 3 54 30.7 6.0 1.3 .7 1.0 18.0
SG3 3 88 6 5 3 0 27 29.3 2.0 1.7 1.0 .0 9.0
SF3 3 70 12 5 1 1 14 23.3 4.0 1.7 .3 .3 4.7
PF3 3 60 16 3 2 1 12 20.0 5.3 1.0 .7 .3 4.0
PF3 0 68 24 1 2 0 18 22.7 8.0 .3 .7 .0 6.0
SG3 0 61 4 8 4 0 22 20.3 1.3 2.7 1.3 .0 7.3
SG3 0 60 1 4 1 0 25 20.0 .3 1.3 .3 .0 8.3
SF3 0 48 8 2 1 0 13 16.0 2.7 .7 .3 .0 4.3
SF2 0 34 7 1 2 0 5 17.0 3.5 .5 1.0 .0 2.5
C2 0 17 4 0 0 0 7 8.5 2.0 .0 .0 .0 3.5
PF1 0 12 3 1 0 0 1 12.0 3.0 1.0 .0 .0 1.0

Transactions

July 1, 1995

September 1, 1995

September 29, 1995

October 5, 1995

October 13, 1995

November 3, 1995

December 12, 1995

December 27, 1995

December 29, 1995

January 5, 1996

February 12, 1996

February 22, 1996

March 3, 1996

June 26, 1996

Player Transactions Citation:[58]

Postseason

The Heat would qualify for the playoffs by beating out the Charlotte Hornets by 1 game for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a record of 42 wins and 40 losses. In the playoffs, the Heat were swept in 3 straight games. The Heat would lose by double digits in each game to the eventual World Champion Chicago Bulls.[25]

Awards, records, and honors

Pat Riley led the Heat to a 42–40 record which tying the franchise record for best record.Alonzo Mourning was voted by fans to be in the All-Star Game.[59]

References

Notes
  • Sources

    • Notes and References

    1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIA/1996.html 1995-96 Miami Heat
    2. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; Underclassmen Rule Atop N.B.A. Draft Board . The New York Times . June 29, 1995 . July 25, 2021.
    3. News: Heisler . Mark . NBA Is a Young Man's Game: Draft: Smith, McDyess, Stackhouse, Wallace and Garnett Lead the Way . Los Angeles Times . June 29, 1995 . December 3, 2022.
    4. Web site: 1995 NBA Draft . Basketball-Reference . December 1, 2022.
    5. News: Justice . Richard . Bullets Select UNC's Wallace . The Washington Post . June 29, 1995 . October 13, 2021.
    6. News: Mallozzi . Vincent M. . BASKETBALL; Knicks File Tampering Charges Over Riley . The New York Times . June 30, 1995 . October 10, 2022.
    7. News: Justice . Richard . Pollin on Chapman: "I'm Disappointed" . The Washington Post . July 1, 1995 . January 2, 2023.
    8. News: Winderman . Ira . Heat Will Name Riley Coach Today . Sun Sentinel . September 2, 1995 . December 3, 2022.
    9. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; Riley Back in Spotlight and Back at the Helm . The New York Times . September 3, 1995 . May 14, 2022.
    10. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; Book Is Closed on the Knicks-Riley Saga . The New York Times . September 8, 1995 . May 14, 2022.
    11. News: Brown . Clifton . PRO BASKETBALL; For Riley and the Heat, It Is Mourning in Miami . The New York Times . November 4, 1995 . May 14, 2022.
    12. News: Heisler . Mark . Mourning Turns Up with Heat: Pro Basketball: Center Is Traded for Rice, Reeves and Geiger After Turning Down Hornets . Los Angeles Times . November 4, 1995 . June 6, 2022.
    13. News: Winderman . Ira . A New Mourning . Sun Sentinel . November 4, 1995 . December 3, 2022.
    14. Web site: NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996 . Basketball-Reference . July 18, 2022.
    15. News: Brown . Clifton . PRO BASKETBALL; On Deadline, Riley Makes Bold Moves . The New York Times . February 23, 1996 . July 18, 2021.
    16. News: Associated Press . Hardaway Heads for the Heat in Trade . Los Angeles Times . February 23, 1996 . March 1, 2017.
    17. News: Patton . Robes . Heat's Months of Preparation Pay Off on Trading Day . Sun Sentinel . February 24, 1996 . December 3, 2022.
    18. News: Winderman . Ira . Meet the New Heat: Miami's Trades Bring 5 Players . Chicago Tribune . February 23, 1996 . September 16, 2022.
    19. News: Associated Press . Riley's Heat The Big Movers on D-Day . Deseret News . February 23, 1996 . June 22, 2023.
    20. News: Associated Press . PRO BASKETBALL; Chapman, Heat Surprise Bulls . The New York Times . February 24, 1996 . January 4, 2023.
    21. News: Chapman's 39 Lead Heat Over the Bulls . The Washington Post . February 24, 1996 . June 24, 2021.
    22. Web site: Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat Box Score, February 23, 1996 . Basketball-Reference . January 4, 2023.
    23. News: Winderman . Ira . Mourning Travels West . Sun Sentinel . January 6, 1996 . June 30, 2022.
    24. Web site: 1995–96 Miami Heat Schedule and Results . Basketball-Reference . June 21, 2021.
    25. http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/miami/heat.html Miami Heat (1988-Present)
    26. News: Chapman Has Surgery . The Washington Post . November 23, 1995 . January 4, 2023.
    27. News: Winderman . Ira . Chapman Out 3 Months After Achilles Surgery . Sun Sentinel . November 23, 1995 . November 18, 2022.
    28. News: Patton . Robes . Chapman Keeps Firing, Starts Hitting . Sun Sentinel . January 23, 1996 . November 18, 2022.
    29. News: Winderman . Ira . Surgery Sidelines Danilovic for Year . Sun Sentinel . January 3, 1996 . January 18, 2022.
    30. News: Heat's Danilovic to Miss 3-4 Months . United Press International . January 2, 1996 . November 10, 2022.
    31. Web site: 1995–96 Miami Heat Roster and Stats . Basketball-Reference . June 21, 2021.
    32. News: Heisler . Mark . NBA Has All-Stars in Its Eyes . Los Angeles Times . February 11, 1996 . January 2, 2023.
    33. News: NBA.com Staff . 1996 NBA All-Star Recap . NBA.com . September 13, 2021 . May 16, 2023.
    34. Web site: 1996 NBA All-Star Game: East 129, West 118 . Basketball-Reference . November 27, 2021.
    35. Pro Basketball . The Gainesville Sun . February 10, 1996 . 15 . September 18, 2025.
    36. Web site: 1996 NBA Rising Stars: East 94, West 92 . Basketball-Reference . September 18, 2025.
    37. Web site: 1995–96 NBA Awards Voting . Basketball-Reference . January 6, 2025.
    38. News: Associated Press . NBA PLAYOFFS; Jordan Sends Heat Home . The New York Times . May 2, 1996 . October 13, 2017.
    39. News: Greenstein . Teddy . Triple Double Backs Up Pippen's Forecast . Chicago Tribune . May 2, 1996 . June 4, 2022.
    40. Web site: 1996 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Heat vs. Bulls . Basketball-Reference . February 5, 2023.
    41. News: Brown . Clifton . N.B.A. FINALS; After a Few Anxious Days, Jordan and Bulls Get Their Title . The New York Times . June 17, 1996 . June 10, 2022.
    42. News: Associated Press . Bulls Drown Out SuperSonics, 87-75 . Los Angeles Times . June 17, 1996 . July 24, 2022.
    43. Web site: 1996 NBA Finals: SuperSonics vs. Bulls . Basketball-Reference . February 5, 2023.
    44. Web site: 1995–96 NBA Season Summary . Basketball-Reference . January 22, 2026.
    45. News: Associated Press . Raptors Sign Benjamin for Backup Role . Los Angeles Times . October 12, 1996 . September 23, 2022.
    46. News: New York Knicks . Orlando Sentinel . October 12, 1996 . December 27, 2022.
    47. News: Winderman . Ira . Chapman Burned Up Over Treatment from Riley, Heat . Sun Sentinel . November 25, 1996 . October 13, 2021.
    48. News: Raptors Sign Walt Williams for Minimum . The New York Times . August 30, 1996 . September 23, 2022.
    49. News: Winderman . Ira . Raptors Get Williams for Minimum . Sun Sentinel . August 30, 1996 . December 27, 2022.
    50. News: Raptors Sign Walt Williams for 1 Year . United Press International . August 30, 1996 . January 18, 2022.
    51. News: Mavericks Sign Gatling to 5-Year Deal . United Press International . July 17, 1996 . June 30, 2022.
    52. News: Brown . Clifton . PRO BASKETBALL; Lakers Up Offer to O'Neal to $140 Million . The New York Times . July 18, 1996 . January 30, 2023.
    53. News: Times News Services . Magic Said to Be Keeping Grant . Los Angeles Times . July 18, 1996 . November 9, 2022.
    54. News: Hawks Sign Corbin and Burton . The New York Times . September 13, 1996 . July 25, 2022.
    55. News: Winderman . Ira . Corbin Starting for Hawks . Sun Sentinel . October 26, 1996 . December 15, 2022.
    56. News: Associated Press . Ex-Laker Smith Joins Hornets . Los Angeles Times . October 21, 1996 . September 24, 2022.
    57. Web site: Miami Heat Uniform . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net . July 7, 2021.
    58. Web site: 1995–96 Miami Heat Transactions . Basketball-Reference . November 26, 2012.
    59. Web site: Year by Year: 1995-96. Heat History. NBA.com. 26 November 2012.

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