30 Years of Heat: All-Time All-Player Countdown #93-91

93. Mike James

Mike James is a 6'2" point guard from Copaigue, NY. Born on June 23rd, 1978, he played four seasons in college with the University of Duquesne, averaging 17.5 points with 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists as a senior in 1997-98. After going undrafted, he played professionally with the Long Island Surf (USBL), UBC St. Polten (Austria), ESPE Chalons-en-Champagne (France), and the Rockford Lightning (CBA) before starting his NBA career.

He got his break during the 2001 offseason, signing on with the Heat as a free agent. After getting waived in October, he signed on in December and ended up playing 15 games off the bench. In limited time (7,9 minutes), he averaged three points and one and a half assists per game. His best showing of the season was probably on January 21st, when he scored 12 points on five-of-six shooting in a 95-93 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Before the 2002-03 season started, James signed with the Heat for $512,435. His game showed a significant upgrade from the prior season, playing 22.8 minutes average over 78 games. He shot 37.3% from the field, nailing an occasional three-pointer (0.9 per contest). He scored around eight points, two rebounds, and three assists per appearance. He finished in double figures 27 times. His best all-around game of the season happened in the season finale, as James scored 15 points (going three-for-five from deep) with six rebounds and seven assists in a 103-99 win over the ever so slightly badder Toronto Raptors. Miami didn't resign him after the season.

James went on to play with the Boston Celtics (55 games), the Detroit Pistons(26 games), the Milwaukee Bucks (47 games), the Houston Rockets (33 games), the Toronto Raptors (79 games), the Minnesota TimberWolves (82 games), the Rockets again (33 games), the New Orleans Hornets (29 games), the Washington Wizards (57 games), the Chicago Bulls (22 games), and the Dallas Mavericks (45 games).

Stat Line: 93 games, 19.8 minutes, .371 field goals, .301 three-pointers, .725 free throws, 7.0 points, 2.8 assists, 1.8 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 11.6 PER, 1.8 Win Shares

Cumulative GameScore: 407.8

92. Wayne Ellington

Ellington is a 6’4”, 200 lb. shooting guard from Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. Born on October 29th, 1987, he joined the NBA after the 2009 NBA Draft, getting selected in the first round by the Minnesota TimberWolves, 28th overall.

Ellington spent the first seven seasons of his NBA career between the Wolves (189 games), the Memphis Grizzlies (40 games), the Cleveland Cavaliers (38 games), the Dallas Mavericks (45 games), the Los Angeles Lakers (65 games), and the Brooklyn Nets (76 games). He signed the richest contract of his career with the Heat on July 11th, 2016, a two-year, $12 million contract.

Ellington, sometimes referred to around these parts as “The Man with the Golden Arm,” was part of Miami’s formidable three-point stable which saw eight players make more than 200 attempts. He shot .378 from deep, starting in 13 of his 62 appearances. He played just over a half per night, joining Miami’s change-of-pace off-the-bench wrecking crew consisting of the “Brothers Johnson,” Willie Reed, and Okaro White.

The Heat, just 6-14 when Ellington sat, racked up a 35-27 record when he played. His best game of the season was on November 30th (see above), when he scored 22 points, going five-of-nine from outside with four steals in an eight-point win over the Denver Nuggets. On March 15th, in an eight-point win against the New Orleans Pelicans (see below), he scored 19 on seven-of-10 shooting in just 22 minutes off the bench.

Ellington made multiple three-point attempts in 42 games overall, making 50% of those shots or better on 18 occasions.

Stat Line: 62 games, 24.2 minutes, .416 field goals, .378 three-pointers, .860 field goals, 10.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.6 steals, 12.6 PER, 3.3 Win Shares

Cumulative GameScore: 426.4

91. Terry Davis

Terry Davis, a 6'9" power forward from Danville, VA, is a left handed shooter born on June 17th, 1967. A graduate of Halifax County High in South Boston, VA, he attended college at Virginia Union University. Over his last two seasons, he put up 22.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game, graduating after the 1988-89 season. After going undrafted, the Heat signed him to a free agent contract for $250,000 just before the start of training camp and the 1989-90 season.

Davis played 63 games that season for the Heat, starting nine at power forward. He shot 46.6% from the field, scoring 4.7 points and collecting 3.6 rebounds per game. He finished in double digits seven times, including two double-doubles. Both efforts came across a three game span from March 20th through March 23rd. He shot 60.6% over the duration, scoring 41 points with 34 rebounds and six blocks. Unfortunately, all three games were losses, and Miami went 12-51 with him in the lineup.

1990-91 would see Davis start at power forward in 17 of his 55 appearances, averaging 18 minutes, 5.5 points and just under five rebounds per appearance. He improved his shooting average to 48.7% from the floor. He managed to finish in double digits 12 times and collect over nine rebound three times, but never on the same night. On opening night, November 2nd, in a 119-95 win over the Washington Bullets, he scored six points with 12 rebounds in only 12 minutes. On April 20th, the season finale, he scored 12 points with seven rebounds as the Heat finished off the New Jersey Nets, 118-103. The Heat released him after the postseason.

Davis went on to play with the Dallas Mavericks (232 games), the Washington Wizards (111 games) and the Denver Nuggets (19 games). His son, Ed Davis, was selected by the Toronto Raptors with the 13th overall pick in the 2010 draft. After seven NBA seasons, he has averaged 6.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

Stat Line: 118 games, 15.9 minutes, .476 field goals, .583 free throws, 5.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.5 blocks, 10.4 PER, 2.5 Win Shares

GameScore: 440.5