5 Players with the Most Steals for the Miami Heat
In sports, it is commonly said that “defense wins championships.” This may be a little bit simplistic, but it is true that at least NBA teams need to have an average defense if they are interested in winning a title. Teams tend to perform better when players are positioned correctly and willing to put forth extra effort in securing rebounds or deflecting passes on defense.
The Miami Heat have been and still are one of the most prosperous and consistent NBA teams in the 21st century mostly due to their dedication to playing good defense. In other words, “Heat Culture” can best be described by President Pat Riley’s philosophy which is often summarized as “the hardest-working, best-conditioned, most professional, unselfish, toughest, meanest, nastiest team in the NBA.” The Miami Heat have reached the finals in six out of 14 seasons while having a defensive rating above zero just once (which means worse than the league average).
Here are five standout players who show off Miami’s defensive expertise through their ability to steal balls from opponents.
Dwyane Wade (1,492)
Dwyane Wade is widely celebrated for his playmaking and shooting skills.. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and 13-time NBA All-Star
averaged 22 points during his career through 1,054 games played in the regular season. He is the Heat’s all-time leader in field goals (7,842), free throws (5,391), points (21,556), assists (5,310), and offensive win shares (72). As for steals, he has accumulated more than any other player in franchise history.
Over a span of 15 years with Miami Heat, Wade stole the ball 1,492 times within 948 regular season games. In his first 13 seasons that were spent in Miami, Wade averaged at least 1.1 steals per game including a high of 2.2 during the 2008-09 campaign, when he also led the league in scoring (30.2 points). In that year's Defensive Player of the Year voting process, Wade ended up third.
Wade was also solid on defense during the postseason. He had a total of 2.2 steals per game when Miami won its first-ever NBA championship in the 2005-06 season. While participating in the playoffs over two seasons—2011-12 and 2012-13—in Miami, which won their second and third titles, respectively—this guard achieved an average of 1.7 steals per game each time. Additionally, Wade holds records for having the most defensive win shares by any player from Miami with no less than 44.0. He has 701 more steals than Miami's second all-time leader in steals and in excess of 900 more than Bam Adebayo, who remains in the team’s top 10 for stealing balls.
Wade had a single-game-best eight steals in Miami's 110-104 regular season triumph over the Dallas Mavericks on November 15, 2013.
Mario Chalmers (791)
However, unlike Wade, Mario Chalmers was not exactly an offensive machine. He averaged 8.9 points in 646 games across a 10-year period with the Heat and Memphis Grizzlies, but he was also a good defender. Picked 34th overall by the Miami Heat in the 2008 NBA Draft, Chalmers had his best statistical year as a rookie when he averaged two steals per game and made it to the All-Rookie Team, as well. Every one of his eight seasons in Miami saw him get at least 1.2 steals per game on average.
Chalmers led all players in this category with an average of 2.9 steals per game throughout the NBA playoffs during the 2008-09 season. Additionally, he was instrumental during the Heat’s title runs in 2011-12, as well as 2012-13, claiming credit for 1.2 and .9 steals, respectively.
Grant Long (666)
Standing 6-foot-8 inches tall, Grant Long was a power forward for the Miami Heat. From 1988-89 to 1994-95, Grant managed to record 11.6 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and1.4 steals in every game. The 1991-92 season was his best career-wise because it saw him make the most progress from scoring a career-high 14.8 points while being ranked among the top 10 players in Most Improved Player voting.
Long was selected by the Miami Heat with their second-round pick (33rd overall) in the draft class of ‘88 and later played for the Atlanta Hawks, Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons, and Boston Celtics. He retired following the 2002-03 season.
Glen Rice (572)
A versatile player with great offensive and defensive instincts, Glen Rice ranks fifth in Heat history for both steals (572) and points (9,248). A three-time All-Star picked fourth overall by Miami in the 1989 NBA Draft, Rice stayed six years with the Heat, where he averaged 19.3 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game. In one game, he recorded a career high of six steals, while during the 1994-95 season he posted a single-season high of 112 steals.
Kevin Edwards (560)
Selected by Miami from DePaul University with a selection as the 20th pick in the 1988 NBA Draft, Kevin Edwards was named to the All-Rookie team in 1988-89 after averaging 13.8 points per game, along with 4.4 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and an average of just under two steals per game. He has never hit that number again, but still managed to average at least 1.2 steals per game over four years before signing as a free agent with New Jersey Nets in 1993.