The 2004–05 NBA season season was the 17th season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association, it signed which free agent, a retired American basketball player whose Hall of Fame career for the Duke Blue Devils is widely regarded as one of the best in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) history?
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2004–05 Miami Heat season The 2004–05 NBA season season was the 17th season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association. The Heat entered the season with high expectations following the acquisition of All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal from the Los Angeles Lakers, plus signing free agents Christian Laettner, three-point specialist Damon Jones, and Shandon Anderson. The team played solid basketball posting a 14-game winning streak between December and January winning 25 of their first 32 games, then winning twelve straight between February and March. At midseason, the team re-signed free agent All-Star center Alonzo Mourning, and re-acquired former Heat guard Steve Smith from the expansion Charlotte Bobcats. The Heat finished in first place in both their division and conference with a 59–23 record, which was the franchise's best since 1996–97.
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Christian Laettner Christian Donald Laettner ( , ; born August 17, 1969) is a retired American basketball player whose Hall of Fame career for the Duke Blue Devils is widely regarded as one of the best in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) history. He was the star player on the back-to-back National Championship teams of 1991 and 1992. He is particularly famous for his game-winning shot against Kentucky in the 1992 regional final and for the hatred he received from opposing fans.
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2004–05 Detroit Pistons season The 2004–05 NBA season was the 64th season for the Pistons, the 57th in the National Basketball Association, and the 48th in the Detroit area. During the offseason, the Pistons signed free agent Antonio McDyess. Coming off their upset victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, the Pistons began the season playing around .500. However, things would get worse on November 19 in a game against the Indiana Pacers, when a brawl erupted between Pacers players and Pistons fans after Ben Wallace and Ron Artest got into a shoving match. As the season progressed, the Pistons would post an 11-game winning streak near the end of the season, and would eventually finished first overall in the Central Division, and second overall in the Eastern Conference with a 54–28 record. Ben Wallace was named Defensive Player of the Year for the third time, and was selected for the 2005 NBA All-Star Game.
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Jeff Mullins (basketball) Jeffrey Vincent Mullins (born March 18, 1942) is an American retired basketball player and coach. He played college basketball with the Duke Blue Devils and in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the St. Louis Hawks and Golden State Warriors. Mullins served as the head basketball coach at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte from 1985 to 1996.
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Dave Jamerson John David "Dave" Jamerson (born August 13, 1967) is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Miami Heat in the 1st round (15th overall) of the 1990 NBA Draft. Jamerson played for the Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz and New Jersey Nets in 3 NBA seasons. His best year as a pro came during the 1991-92 NBA season as a member of the Rockets, when he appeared in 48 games and averaged 4.0 ppg. He played collegiately at Ohio University, averaging 31.2 points per game a senior, finishing 2nd in the nation in scoring. In 1989, against the University of Charleston, he set a single game record by draining 14 3-pointers and scoring 60 points in the Ohio victory. His #33 jersey at OU was retired during a halftime ceremony during a January 2007 game. Jamerson graduated from Stow High School He was an Outreach Pastor at Traders Point Christian Church in Indianapolis, IN. Now he is the pastor of Renovate Church in Cedar Park, Texas
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2004–05 Charlotte Bobcats season The 2004–05 NBA season was the first season for the Charlotte Bobcats in the National Basketball Association. This season marked the return of NBA basketball to Charlotte after a two-year hiatus, the 15th season of the NBA in the city of Charlotte. The original Hornets had moved to New Orleans after the 2001–02 season to become the New Orleans Hornets, now the New Orleans Pelicans. The Bobcats had the second overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft, which they used to select Emeka Okafor out of the University of Connecticut, and hired Bernie Bickerstaff as head coach during the offseason. The Bobcats played their first game at the Charlotte Coliseum on November 4, which was a 103–96 loss to the Washington Wizards. They would win their first game defeating the Orlando Magic 111–100 at home on November 6. However, the expansion team struggled losing ten straight games in January and March, finishing fourth in the Southeast Division with a 18–64 record. Okafor averaged 15.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.7 blocks per game and was named Rookie of The Year.
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Mike Iuzzolino Michael Alan Iuzzolino (born January 22, 1968) is an assistant men's basketball coach at Robert Morris University and a retired professional basketball player. He was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round (35th pick overall) of the 1991 NBA Draft. Iuzzolino, a 5-foot 10 inch point guard, played two years in the National Basketball Association (NBA), both with the Mavericks averaging 9.0 points per game in his career. In 1993, he signed as a free agent with the Orlando Magic, but was waived. After his NBA career, Iuzzolino played professionally in Italy and Spain.
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Kevin Edwards Kevin Durell Edwards (born October 30, 1965) is a retired American professional basketball player who currently serves as DePaul University men's basketball team's director of community, corporate, and professional relations. Edwards was selected by the Miami Heat with the 20th overall pick of the 1988 NBA draft. Edwards was the second ever draft pick in Miami Heat history, behind teammate Rony Seikaly who was selected as the 9th pick in the same draft.
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David Thompson (basketball) David O'Neil Thompson (born July 13, 1954) is an American retired professional basketball player. He played with the Denver Nuggets of both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as the Seattle SuperSonics of the NBA. He was previously a star in college for North Carolina State, leading the Wolfpack to its first NCAA championship in 1974. Thompson is one of the six players to score 70 or more points in an NBA game.
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Bob Davis (basketball) Robert "Bob" Davis (born April 2, 1950) is a retired professional basketball small forward who played one season in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers during the 1972–73 season. He attended Weber State University and was selected by the Blazers during the second round (14 pick overall) of the 1972 NBA draft.
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Antawn Jamison Antawn Cortez Jamison ( ; born June 12, 1976) is an American retired professional basketball player who played 16 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels, being named national player of the year in 1998. He was selected by the Toronto Raptors as the fourth overall pick of the 1998 NBA draft, then traded to the Golden State Warriors for former Tar Heel teammate Vince Carter.
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2004–05 Boston Celtics season The 2004–05 NBA season was the 59th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. The season is memorable when the team hired Doc Rivers to be their head coach for the upcoming season. During the offseason, the Celtics acquired All-Star guard Gary Payton, and former Celtics forward Rick Fox from the Los Angeles Lakers, but Fox would retire before the season. The Celtics struggled playing under .500 for the first half of the season. At midseason, Payton was traded to the Atlanta Hawks for former Celtic All-Star forward Antoine Walker. However, Payton would never suit up for the Hawks and was released shortly after. He then re-signed with the Celtics afterwards for the remainder of the season. The team went on a 7-game winning streak in March, finishing first place in the Atlantic Division with a 45–37 record. Paul Pierce was selected for the 2005 NBA All-Star Game.
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Jim McIlvaine James Michael McIlvaine (born July 30, 1972) is a retired American professional basketball player who spent seven seasons in the National Basketball Association with the Washington Bullets, Seattle SuperSonics and New Jersey Nets. The 7-foot-1 shot-blocking specialist never made a major impact in the NBA, and is perhaps best remembered for the fall-out that occurred after he signed with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1996.
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2000–01 Charlotte Hornets season The 2000–01 NBA season was the thirteenth season for the Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Hornets acquired Jamal Mashburn, P.J. Brown and Otis Thorpe from the Miami Heat, and re-signed free agent Hersey Hawkins. With the acquisitions of Mashburn and Brown along with veterans David Wesley and Elden Campbell, plus an increased role for second-year guard Baron Davis, the Hornets finished the season third in the Central Division with a 46–36 record, and qualified for their sixth Playoff appearance. In the playoffs, the players all wore headbands to show team unity as they swept the 3rd-seeded Miami Heat in three straight games in the Eastern Conference First Round. However, they were eliminated by the Milwaukee Bucks three games to four in the Conference Semifinals after taking a 3–2 series lead. Following the season, Derrick Coleman was traded back to the Philadelphia 76ers, second-year forward Eddie Robinson signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls, and Hawkins and Thorpe both retired.
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Arvid Kramer Arvid Kramer (born October 2, 1956) is a retired American basketball player, mostly known for being the first overall pick by the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the 1988 expansion draft at the age of 31, and furthermore being the only player to be selected in two expansion drafts and never playing for the teams that drafted him.
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Tyler Thornton Tyler Damascus Thornton (born April 5, 1992) is an American basketball player who recently completed his college career for Duke University. Thornton was one of the top rated high school point guards in the class of 2010, as rated by Rivals.com. On September 13, 2008, Thornton committed to Duke.
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Quinn Cook Quinn Alexander Cook (born March 23, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Duke University and was one of the top rated basketball recruits in the class of 2011.
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2006–07 Miami Heat season The 2006–07 Miami Heat season was the 19th season of the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association (NBA). On January 3, 2007, head coach Pat Riley took a leave of absence citing hip and knee problems and was replaced by Ron Rothstein. Despite injuries to several players, including Dwyane Wade, the Heat repeated as Southeast division champions. With a record of 44–38, it was clear that the Heat was not the same team of years past. The Heat ended the season with a four-game playoff sweep to the Chicago Bulls in the first round and the Heat became the first defending champions since 1957 to be swept in the first round. Following the season, Gary Payton retired.
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Bernard King Bernard King (born December 4, 1956) is an American retired professional basketball player at the small forward position in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played 14 seasons with the New Jersey Nets, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and the Washington Bullets. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 8, 2013. His younger brother, Albert, has also played in the NBA during his career.
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Jerry Sloan Gerald Eugene Sloan (born March 28, 1942) is an American former National Basketball Association player and head coach, and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Former NBA commissioner David Stern called Sloan "one of the greatest and most respected coaches in NBA history". Sloan had a career regular-season win–loss record of 1,221–803, placing him third all-time in NBA wins at the time he retired. Sloan was only the fifth coach in NBA history to reach 1,000 victories and is one of two coaches in NBA history to record 1,000 wins with one club (the Utah Jazz). He also coached for one team longer than anyone in NBA history. The 2009–10 season was his 22nd season (and 21st full season) as coach of the Jazz. Sloan coached the Jazz to 15 consecutive playoff appearances from 1989 to 2003. Although he never won a Coach of the Year award, he is one of only four coaches in NBA history with 15-plus consecutive seasons with a winning record (Gregg Popovich, Pat Riley and Phil Jackson are the others). He led Utah to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998, but lost to the Chicago Bulls both times.
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Rick Barry Richard Francis Dennis Barry III (born March 28, 1944) is an American retired professional basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA). Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in history by the NBA in 1996, Barry is the only player to lead the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), ABA and NBA in scoring for an individual season. He was known for his unorthodox but effective underhand free throw shooting technique, and at the time of his retirement in 1980, his .900 free throw percentage ranked first in NBA history. In 1987, Barry was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He is the father of former NBA players Brent Barry and Jon Barry and current professional player Canyon Barry.
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Brian Winters Brian Joseph Winters (born March 1, 1952) is an American former basketball player and coach. He attended academic and athletic powerhouse Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens, New York, graduating in 1970. He then played collegiately with the University of South Carolina and was the 12th pick in the 1974 NBA Draft, taken by the Los Angeles Lakers. He made the NBA All-Rookie Team with the Lakers, and was then traded to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of the trade that brought Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Lakers. He had a productive nine-year career that included two appearances in the NBA All-Star Game and playing on six playoffs teams. Winters averaged 16.2 points and 4.1 assists over his career, with his best years coming from 1975 to 1979 when he averaged over 19 points and slightly less than 5 assists per game. His number 32 was retired by the Bucks.