The Miami Heat have had their fair share of success in recent years. They have won a total of three NBA Championships, all with future Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade. Players like LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Shaquille O'Neal were all key contributors in these teams championship success, with some of these squads known as the best to ever play in the association.
In each NBA Finals, an MVP of the series is given, so the Heat is left with three. Each player put on memorable performances, some of which were all-time great; one even won two times. Whose NBA Finals MVP outing was the best, though?
The three winners were closely linked, but can be separated from individual games and overall statistical numbers.
3. LeBron James (2012)
After defeating the Boston Celtics in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals The Miami Heat faced off against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012 NBA Finals. In Game 4 of the Finals LeBron James hit the go ahead three-pointer to help the Heat take a 3-1 series lead. In Game 5, James recorded a triple double as the Heat managed to wrap up the Finals win against the Thunder to secure their second NBA title in franchise history. Meanwhile, for LeBron, this was his first ever NBA championship. With a stat line of 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game, James was voted the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player unanimously.
ESPN later ranked LeBron's postseason averages of 30.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game as the second greatest postseason performance in the modern NBA.
2. LeBron James (2013)
In 2013 the Miami Heat faced off against the San Antonio Spurs. For LeBron James, this was a chance for revenge against the Spurs who swept his overmatched Cavaliers side in the 2007 NBA Finals.
As the series commenced, James was scrutinized for his poor shot selection and lack of aggressiveness, as the Spurs took a 3-2 series lead and looked to win the championship on Miami's home floor. James scored 16 fourth quarter points and posted his second triple double of the series to lead Miami to a comeback victory and force a game seven.
In Game seven, LeBron scored 37 points to lead the Heat over the Spurs in a game seven win. James' 37 points tied an NBA Finals record for most points scored in a game seven victory. With averages 25.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, seven assists, and 2.3 steals per game in the NBA Finals, LeBron was awarded his second consecutive NBA Finals MVP.j
1. Dwyane Wade (2006)
Dwyane Wade's first NBA Finals appearance was when the Miami Heat faced off against the Dallas Mavericks, and it was a memorable one. In game three of the series not only did Wade snagged a career high 13 rebounds he also set a career playoff high 42 points which included 15 fourth quarter points. Wade lead a 22-7 Miami run in the last 6:29 of the game to erase a 13 point deficit with Gary Payton hitting the go-ahead jumper to seal the victory.
Wade helped the Heat came back from a 0-2 deficit against the Mavericks as throughout games three, four and five Wade scored 42,36 and 43 points respectively due to this the Heat managed to take a 3-2 series lead heading into game six. In game six of the series Wade lead the way with 36 points as the Heat went onto win their first NBA championship in franchise history. Due to Wade posting the third highest points per game average by a player in his first NBA Finals he became the fifth youngest player in the history of the NBA to receive the NBA Finals MVP award. His PER of 33.8 in the 2006 NBA Finals was ranked as the greatest NBA Finals performance since the ABA-NBA merger by John Hollinger of ESPN.
