Record 42–40 (.512) | ||
Playoff finish First Round(Eliminated 0-3) Television SportsChannel Florida, Sunshine Network, WBFS | ||
The 1995–96 NBA season was the Heat's eighth season in the National Basketball Association. Under new head coach Pat Riley, the Heat would be restructured. On the first day of the regular season, they acquired All-Star center Alonzo Mourning from the Charlotte Hornets. With the addition of Mourning along with the offseason acquisition of Rex Chapman from the Washington Bullets, the Heat won 11 of their first 14 games, but won only 9 of their next 32 games.
Contents
Riley continued to make changes as he would make three more deals at the trading deadline. The club traded Kevin Willis and Bimbo Coles to the Golden State Warriors for All-Star guard Tim Hardaway and Chris Gatling, while trading Billy Owens and Kevin Gamble to the Sacramento Kings for Walt Williams and Tyrone Corbin, and then trading rookie Terrence Rencher to the Phoenix Suns for Tony Smith. Other transactions included signing free agents Jeff Malone and rookie Voshon Lenard at midseason.
The Heat finished third in the Atlantic Division with a 42–40 record. In the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the playoffs, the Heat lost in three straight games to the Chicago Bulls. Following the season, Chapman signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns, Williams signed with the Toronto Raptors, Gatling signed with the Dallas Mavericks, Corbin signed with the and Atlanta Hawks, Smith signed with the Charlotte Hornets and Malone retired.
Mourning became the first Heat player to appear in an All-Star Game, as he was selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game in San Antonio. For the season, the Heat added red alternate road uniforms which lasted until 1999.
Transactions
July 1, 1995
September 1, 1995
September 29, 1995
October 5, 1995
October 13, 1995
November 3, 1995
December 12, 1995
December 27, 1995
December 29, 1995
January 5, 1996
February 12, 1996
February 22, 1996
March 3, 1996
June 26, 1996
Postseason
The Heat would qualify for the playoffs by beating out the Charlotte Hornets by 1 game for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a record of 42 wins and 40 losses. In the playoffs, the Heat were swept in 3 straight games. The Heat would lose by double digits in each game to the eventual World Champion Chicago Bulls.
Awards, records, and honors
Pat Riley led the Heat to a 42-40 record which tying the franchise record for best record. Alonzo Mourning was voted by fans to be in the All-Star Game.