Elsa Hasch /Allsport
The Miami Heat have a history of growth and have seen some NBA legends stick around. Some legends, however, have made appearances so quickly you may have forgotten they played for the Heat.
Some extremely talented NBA players have played for the Miami Heat, including current forward Jimmy Butler and future Hall-of-Famers like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. The Heat’s potential has consistently grown over the years, and they are currently holding first place in the Eastern Conference.
The team is currently doing well, but they have featured many NBA greats on their roster over the years. Who are some forgotten legends from the Heat’s history?
3. Brent Barry
Brent “Bones” Barry’s career with the Miami Heat was very short. He only played with the Heat for 17 games after a mid-season trade and is most associated with the San Antonio Spurs. His father, Rick Barry, was also a high-achieving player in the NBA which gave Brent big shoes to fill. Having an estranged relationship with his father gave him extra pressure to create a name for himself (via Chris Baker, Los Angeles Times).
“All through high school, any time myself or any of my brothers had any success on the basketball court, my dad’s name would be synonymous with that. From 10 to 23 years old, my father hasn’t been around much. To go out and do things in the off-season on my own time and then succeed during the season and have his name be mentioned in the same breath as mine, that’s a tough thing for somebody to deal with.”
Bones was well-known for his ability to shoot 3-pointers and consistently score. In 1996, he made the All-Star team and won first place in the slam dunk contest, which became one of his most well-known achievements.
Barry was acquired by the Heat in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. They released him at the end of the season and he signed with the Chicago Bulls as a free agent.