NBA Players Bestow Ultimate Honor on Miami Heat Organization

Alex Toledo | Apr 22, 2025

Jan 19, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat president Pat Riley sits on the court for the jersey retirement ceremony for former player Udonis Haslem during halftime of the game between the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images / Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

The Miami Heat are in the middle of a tumultuous season after the public breakup with former star Jimmy Butler.

The good news for Heat fans: NBA players around the league consider the franchise one of the best-run.

As part of The Athletic's latest anonymous player poll, NBA players ranked the Heat fifth (by percentage of votes) among the league's "best organizations."

Coming off a dynastic run certainly helps boost the credibility of an organization.

But NBA players love what the Warriors bring to the table outside of that — voting Golden State the league's best organization. pic.twitter.com/XViR0qtGOd

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 22, 2025

The Heat were ranked ahead of teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs,Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks.

The four teams ranked ahead were: the Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder and the Golden State Warriors, Butler's new home.

Despite the end of the Butler era going the way it did, they did signifcantly surpass league-wide expectations both times they reached the Finals in 2020 and 2023. Additionally, the Heat have hit on most of their last few draft picks like All-Stars Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Pelle Larsson.

Furthermore, the Heat have turned several undrafted players into rotation-level NBA players throughout the last few seasons such as Max Strus, Caleb Martin, Gabe Vincent and Duncan Robinson.

---

MORE MIAMI HEAT STORIES

Takeaways From Miami Heat's Disheartening Game 1 Loss In Cleveland

Miami Heat Rookie Seeks to Rebound from Birthday Dud in Playoff Debut

Alexander Toledo is a contributor to Miami Heat On SI and producer/co-host of the Five on the Floor podcast, covering the Heat and NBA. He can be reached at toledoalexander22@gmail.com. Twitter: @tropicalblanket

---

Dwyane Wade Calls Jimmy Butler Saga "A Bad Stain" On Miami Heat Organization

After over five seasons of proving people wrong, which included two NBA Finals trips, it probably is safe to say Jimmy Butler's tenure with the Miami Heat should have ended differently.

Dwyane Wade, the franchise's most impactful player, recently shared his opinion on the situation in a Q&A with HoopsHype's Michael Scotto.

"I didn’t like it. I think I was very open about that on my 'Timeout' show," Wade said. "I was very open about me not liking the stain that it continues to put on my organization. It’s no secret about it," Wade said. "But also, I don’t point any fingers and say this person or that person is in the wrong. I don’t know. I wasn’t there. I’m not invested and involved like that."

Wade, a three-time champion with the Heat, elaborated on the end of the era.

"I have the statue out front. I am the person who was chosen to be the guy in a sense when it comes to this organization. I’m always going to support and always be a phone call away for the conversations that need to be had for the organization for a player and give them what I can about information when it comes to how to handle things," Wade said. "But ultimately, they’re going to do what they want to do. It was a bad stain on our organization, but we move on."

Wade ended by expressing thoughts on Butler being happy with the Golden State Warriors.

"I think Jimmy is happy where he is. I think Miami is happy in the post-Jimmy era from the standpoint that six years is over, and it was great. Now, they can move forward with their future. Unfortunately, it needed to happen. I wish the divorce could’ve been better."