1994–95 Miami Heat season

The 1994–95 NBA season was the seventh season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association.^[1] The Heat received the twelfth overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft, and selected point guard Khalid Reeves from the University of Arizona.^[2][3][4] During the off-season, the team signed free agents Kevin Gamble, Ledell Eackles and Brad Lohaus.^[5][6] Before the regular season started, Heat management decided to start pulling the plug on their core that dated back to the franchise's first season in 1988–89; it started by trading Rony Seikaly to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Billy Owens.^[7][8][9] The Heat then proceeded to trade Steve Smith, and Grant Long to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Kevin Willis after the first two games.^[10][11][12]

1994–95 Miami Heat season
Head coach	Kevin Loughery Alvin Gentry (interim)
General manager	Lewis Schaffel
Owners	Ted Arison Billy Cunningham Lewis Schaffel
Arena	Miami Arena
Results
Record	32–50 (.390)
Place	Division: 4th (Atlantic) Conference: 11th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WBFS-TV Sunshine Network
Radio	WINZ
< 1993–94 1995–96 >

Despite the addition of Owens and Willis, the Heat stumbled out of the gate losing seven of their first eight games of the regular season. After holding a 17–29 record at the All-Star break,^[13] head coach Kevin Loughery was fired, and replaced with assistant Alvin Gentry,^[14][15][16] as the Heat finished in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with a 32–50 record.^[17]

Glen Rice led the team in scoring averaging 22.3 points per game, and also led them with 185 three-point field goals, while Willis averaged 17.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, and Owens provided the team with 14.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. In addition, Bimbo Coles provided with 10.0 points, 6.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game, while Reeves contributed 9.2 points and 4.3 assists per game, Matt Geiger averaged 8.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and John Salley contributed 7.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.^[18]

This was Rice's final season with the Heat, as he was traded along with Geiger and Reeves to the Charlotte Hornets the following season.^[19][20][21] Meanwhile, Salley was left unprotected in the 1995 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Toronto Raptors expansion team,^[22][23][24] while Harold Miner was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers,^[25][26][27] Eackles re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the Washington Bullets,^[28] Lohaus signed with the San Antonio Spurs,^[29] and Gentry was fired as head coach and was replaced by Pat Riley, who resigned from coaching the New York Knicks.^[30]

On April 15, 1995, Rice scored a career-high of 56 points in a 123–117 home win over the Orlando Magic,^[31][32][33] establishing a new franchise record that would stand until LeBron James's 61 points on March 3, 2014.^[34] During the NBA All-Star weekend in Phoenix, Arizona, Rice won the NBA Three-Point Shootout, and Miner won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest for the second time.^[35][36][37]

Offseason

NBA draft

Main article: 1994 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	12	Khalid Reeves	PG	United States	University of Arizona

Roster

1994–95 Miami Heat roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From F 2 Keith Askins 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 197 lb (89 kg) 1967–12–15 Alabama G 12 Bimbo Coles 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1968–04–22 Virginia Tech G 21 Ledell Eackles 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1966–11–24 New Orleans G/F 35 Kevin Gamble 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1965–11–13 Iowa C 52 Matt Geiger 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 243 lb (110 kg) 1969–09–10 Georgia Tech F 54 Brad Lohaus 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1964–09–29 Iowa G 4 Harold Miner 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1971–05–05 USC G/F 32 Billy Owens 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1969–05–01 Syracuse G 14 Kevin Pritchard 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1967–07–17 Kansas G 3 Khalid Reeves 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 199 lb (90 kg) 1972–07–15 Arizona F 41 Glen Rice 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–05–28 Michigan F/C 22 John Salley 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1964–05–16 Georgia Tech F/C 42 Kevin Willis 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1962–09–06 Michigan State

Head coach Kevin Loughery Alvin Gentry (interim) Assistant(s) Ed Badger Tony Fiorentino Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: April 18, 1995

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
c-Orlando Magic	57	25	.695	—	39–2	18–23	18–10
x-New York Knicks	55	27	.671	2	29–12	26–15	23–5
x-Boston Celtics	35	47	.427	22	20–21	15–26	14–14
Miami Heat	32	50	.390	25	22–19	10–31	9–19
New Jersey Nets	30	52	.366	27	20–21	10–31	13–15
Philadelphia 76ers	24	58	.293	33	14–27	10–31	12–16
Washington Bullets	21	61	.256	36	13–28	8–33	9–19

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Orlando Magic	57	25	.695	–
2	y-Indiana Pacers	52	30	.634	5
3	x-New York Knicks	55	27	.671	2
4	x-Charlotte Hornets	50	32	.610	7
5	x-Chicago Bulls	47	35	.573	10
6	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	43	39	.524	14
7	x-Atlanta Hawks	42	40	.512	15
8	x-Boston Celtics	35	47	.427	22
9	Milwaukee Bucks	34	48	.415	23
10	Miami Heat	32	50	.390	25
11	New Jersey Nets	30	52	.366	27
12	Detroit Pistons	28	54	.341	29
13	Philadelphia 76ers	24	58	.293	33
14	Washington Bullets	21	61	.256	36

Record vs. opponents

1994–95 NBA records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	–	3–1	2–2	1–4	1–4	2–0	2–0	3–2	2–0	0–2	1–4	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–3	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–0
Boston	1–3	–	1–3	0–4	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	4–1	1–3	2–0	2–3	0–5	2–3	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	3–1
Charlotte	2–2	3–1	–	2–2	3–2	0–2	1–1	5–0	2–0	0–2	1–4	2–0	0–2	3–1	4–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–3	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	3–1
Chicago	4–1	4–0	2–2	–	2–3	1–1	1–1	5–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–4	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–3	4–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2
Cleveland	4–1	2–2	2–3	3–2	–	0–2	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	2–3	1–1	1–1	1–3	4–0	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–1
Dallas	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	–	1–4	1–1	3–1	2–3	1–1	3–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	4–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	0–4	3–1	2–2	2–3	0–4	2–4	1–1
Denver	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1	–	1–1	1–3	1–4	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	6–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	3–1	2–2	1–4	1–3	1–4	2–0
Detroit	2–3	1–3	0–5	0–5	2–2	1–1	1–1	–	1–1	0–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	2–3	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–3	4–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1
Golden State	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	–	0–4	0–2	3–2	3–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–2	1–4	0–5	1–3	1–4	2–2	2–0
Houston	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	3–2	4–1	2–0	4–0	–	1–1	3–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–5	0–4	2–3	2–0
Indiana	4–1	2–2	4–1	2–2	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	–	2–0	1–1	2–2	3–2	2–0	3–1	1–3	2–2	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–1
L.A. Clippers	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	2–3	1–3	0–2	–	2–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–4	0–5	1–4	0–4	0–5	1–3	0–2
L.A. Lakers	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	2–3	4–0	1–1	3–2	–	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–4	2–3	3–2	1–3	4–1	2–2	2–0
Miami	2–2	1–4	1–3	1–3	3–1	2–0	0–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	–	4–0	1–1	1–3	1–4	1–3	1–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	4–1
Milwaukee	3–1	3–1	1–4	4–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	3–2	2–0	1–1	2–3	1–1	1–1	0–4	–	1–1	2–2	2–2	0–4	3–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1
Minnesota	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–4	0–6	1–1	3–1	2–3	0–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	–	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	0–4	1–3	0–5	0–4	1–4	1–1
New Jersey	0–4	3–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–2	1–1	–	1–4	2–2	2–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–3
New York	2–2	5–0	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	4–1	2–2	2–0	4–1	–	2–3	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–0
Orlando	3–1	3–2	3–1	3–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–2	3–2	–	4–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–2
Philadelphia	1–3	1–3	1–3	0–4	1–3	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	4–1	1–3	1–1	3–2	0–4	1–4	–	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–2
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–3	1–3	1–1	4–1	4–1	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	–	5–0	4–1	2–2	4–1	2–2	2–0
Portland	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–3	2–0	4–1	3–1	1–1	5–0	3–2	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–5	–	3–2	1–3	2–3	1–3	2–0
Sacramento	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	5–0	1–3	0–2	4–1	2–3	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–4	2–3	–	0–4	3–2	0–4	1–1
San Antonio	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–2	4–1	2–0	3–1	5–1	0–2	4–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	5–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	4–0	–	2–2	3–2	2–0
Seattle	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	4–1	4–0	1–1	5–0	1–4	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–4	3–2	2–3	2–2	–	1–3	2–0
Utah	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–1	4–2	4–1	2–0	2–2	3–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0	2–0	4–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	4–0	2–3	3–1	–	2–0
Washington	0–4	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–4	1–3	1–1	3–2	0–4	2–3	2–3	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	—

Game log

Regular season

1994–95 game log Total: 32–50 (Home: 22–19; Road: 10–31)
November: 3–9 (home: 2–3; road: 1–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
December: 6–9 (home: 5–4; road: 1–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 24 December 26, 1994 7:30 p.m. EST Houston L 88–101 Rice (20) Rice, Willis (7) Owens (6) Miami Arena 15,200 8–16
January: 5–10 (home: 3–3; road: 2–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 32 January 11, 1995 8:30 p.m. EST @ Houston L 97–108 Miner (19) Willis (9) Coles, Reeves (5) The Summit 12,424 10–22
February: 7–5 (home: 4–2; road: 3–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record All-Star Break
March: 7–11 (home: 4–5; road: 3–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
April: 4–6 (home: 4–2; road: 0–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
1994–95 schedule

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Glen Rice	SF	82	82	3,014	378	192	112	14	1,831	36.8	4.6	2.3	1.4	.2	22.3
Kevin Gamble	SF	77	0	1,223	122	119	52	10	566	15.9	1.6	1.5	.7	.1	7.4
John Salley	C	75	50	1,955	336	123	47	85	547	26.1	4.5	1.6	.6	1.1	7.3
Matt Geiger	C	74	43	1,712	413	55	41	51	617	23.1	5.6	.7	.6	.7	8.3
Billy Owens	SG	70	60	2,296	502	246	80	30	1,002	32.8	7.2	3.5	1.1	.4	14.3
Bimbo Coles	PG	68	65	2,207	191	416	99	13	679	32.5	2.8	6.1	1.5	.2	10.0
Khalid Reeves	PG	67	17	1,462	186	288	77	10	619	21.8	2.8	4.3	1.1	.1	9.2
Kevin Willis†	PF	65	61	2,301	696	83	59	33	1,112	35.4	10.7	1.3	.9	.5	17.1
Brad Lohaus	PF	61	1	730	102	43	20	25	267	12.0	1.7	.7	.3	.4	4.4
Ledell Eackles	SG	54	6	898	95	72	19	2	395	16.6	1.8	1.3	.4	.0	7.3
Keith Askins	SF	50	5	854	198	39	35	17	229	17.1	4.0	.8	.7	.3	4.6
Harold Miner	SG	45	16	871	117	69	15	6	329	19.4	2.6	1.5	.3	.1	7.3
Kevin Pritchard†	PG	14	0	158	11	23	2	1	43	11.3	.8	1.6	.1	.1	3.1
Steve Smith†	SG	2	2	62	6	7	2	1	41	31.0	3.0	3.5	1.0	.5	20.5
Grant Long†	PF	2	2	62	11	4	2	0	16	31.0	5.5	2.0	1.0	.0	8.0

• ^† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Heat only.

Awards and records

Transactions

The Heat were involved in the following transactions during the 1994–95 season.

Trades

November 2, 1994

To Miami Heat Sasha Danilović Billy Owens

To Golden State Warriors Rony Seikaly

November 7, 1994

To Miami Heat Kevin Willis 1996 first-round pick

To Atlanta Hawks Grant Long Steve Smith 1996 second-round pick

Free agents

Additions Player Signed Former team Ledell Eackles September 30 Rapid City Thrillers (CBA) Jerome Harmon October 4 Unsigned Kevin Pritchard October 4 Quad City Thunder (CBA) Chucky Brown October 4 Yakima Sun Kings (CBA) Steve Henson October 4 Mexico Aztecas (CBA) Kevin Gamble October 7 Boston Celtics Brad Lohaus October 7 Milwaukee Bucks Kevin Pritchard March 6 Philadelphia 76ers Kevin Pritchard March 24 Miami Heat

Subtractions Player Left New team Brian Shaw free agency, September 22 Orlando Magic Jerome Harmon waived, October 17 Philadelphia 76ers Steve Henson waived, November 1 Portland Trail Blazers Chucky Brown waived, November 1 Houston Rockets Kevin Pritchard waived, November 1 Philadelphia 76ers Alec Kessler waived, November 2 Olimpia Stefanel Milano (Lega Basket Serie A) Willie Burton waived, November 3 Philadelphia 76ers Kevin Pritchard waived, March 19 Miami Heat

Player Transactions Citation:^[38]