Contents

All-Time NBA Starting Lineups: Southeast Division

Re-creating the ‘Heatles’

· Jul 17 - 4 minutes read

The Southeast Division is ruled by one franchise: the Miami Heat. The franchise has accumulated the most division titles and NBA championships. This is thanks to the godfatherhood of Pat Riley, who’s managed Miami to dominance. Its peak came in the early 2010s when the “superteam” became known as the ‘Heatles.’ Using the Southeast’s all-time best players, we make our NBA picks for a new superteam.

The All-Time Southeast Division Starters

G Tim Hardaway (MIA)
G Dwyane Wade (MIA)
F Dominique Wilkins (ATL)
F LeBron James (MIA)
C Dwight Howard (ORL)

13 years ago today, the Heat officially introduced LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.

All-Time NBA Starting Lineups: Southeast Division — Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat - Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP

The summer of 2010 led to what we see nowadays in the super team era.

Four straight NBA Finals appearances before LeBron went back to the Cavaliers. pic.twitter.com/xNR4tFKA2n

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 9, 2023

Point Guard: Tim Hardaway

Before Allen Iverson became the king of crossovers, Tim Hardaway was the father of the “UTEP two-step.” The man broke ankles for a living. He played some fine basketball too, turning the hapless Golden State Warriors into a must-watch team for his first seven seasons. Then his most successful seasons came with the Heat from 1996 to 2001.

The Heat made a Conference Finals appearance, the furthest it’s been in its young history. Hardaway was named to the All-NBA First Team and finished in the top four in MVP voting. While he never won an NBA championship, Hardaway elevated the profiles of two struggling franchises.

Shooting Guard: Dwyane Wade

While Hardaway raised the Heat’s standards, Wade took the team to new heights. Going against NBA predictions, he led the Heat to an upset over Dallas to claim its first NBA title. In just his third season, the young Wade was already a champion and a Finals MVP. And even after he recruited a larger (literally) superstar, fans have come to revere him as the franchise’s true star: the “Sheriff of Wade County.”

Wade’s accolades, which include three championships, 13 All-Star selections, and a scoring title, coupled with his uncanny ability to make acrobatic shots, have him as one of the four greatest shooting guards to play in the NBA.

Small Forward: Dominique Wilkins

Wilkins was a star ahead of his time. The man aptly nicknamed “the Human Highlight Film” wowed fans and peers with his freakish athleticism. He popularized the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest, which he won twice, with his rivalries with Michael Jordan and teammate Spud Webb. But creating spectacular dunks wasn’t Wikins’ only trick.

The nine-time All-Star was a gifted scorer. He won the scoring title in 1986 and averaged over 26 points in a season nine times. Wilkins also became just the ninth player to hit the 25,000-point mark. While he never won a title, he remains the most recognized star to represent the franchise.

Power Forward: LeBron James

The “King” headlines this All-Time Southeast Division lineup as the starting power forward. LeBron James matured into the greatest basketball player of his time during his four-season tenure in Miami. Paired with Wade and Chris Bosh, James won a pair of MVPs and led the Heat to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances. They won two.

While James continues to put retirement on hold to rack up lofty stats, it’s arguable that the peak of his career came while he was in Miami. He embraced the role of a villain and proceeded to dominate the NBA. Miami was a chalky bet online in every sportsbook. And for the most part, James and the team delivered.

Center: Dwight Howard

Center is a difficult spot to pick from. Wes Unseld, Alonzo Mourning, and Chris Bosh were all this close to being selected here. But Dwight Howard is underrated for how dominant he was in his short but stellar peak. As the Magic’s franchise center, Howard was a force in the middle. Orlando was a perennial title threat and even upset James’s Cavaliers to make the Finals.

With Orlando, Howard won three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards and made five straight All-NBA First Team selections. Injuries and unflattering NBA news sullied Howard’s reputation late in his career. But the fact remains that he was the most dominant center of his time.

BET ON THE NBA