2012 Miami Heat

The lockout cut the season to 66 games, and Miami finished 46-20 in James's second year with the team. The summer before, the Heat had lost the Finals to Dallas, and James had absorbed the criticism that came with it. The roster added Shane Battier and rookie guard Norris Cole for the title push.

James was the best player in the series by a wide margin. He averaged 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists against Oklahoma City. Wade and Bosh formed the rest of the core, while Battier and Mike Miller hit the open threes the stars created. Miller made seven of them in the clinching game.

The Thunder had a young trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden, and they won Game 1 at home. Miami answered with four straight, closing it out 121-106 in Game 5. James finished that game with a triple-double and his first Finals MVP.

The title ended the question that had followed James since he left Cleveland in 2010. He had the ring, and the move to Miami had paid off in its second year.

Looking back, miami won the 2012 title in LeBron James's second season with the Heat, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder in five. James took the first championship and Finals MVP of his career and finished the clincher with a triple-double. The lockout-shortened season ran only 66 games, and Miami went 46-20.

The starting five was Mario Chalmers, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Shane Battier, and Chris Bosh. Erik Spoelstra coached the group with Mike Miller as the primary bench scorer.

This was title number 2 in a Miami Heat run that stretched across consecutive or near-consecutive seasons. Repeat winners carried continuity from one year to the next.

The full roster ran deeper than the headline names. Role players who mattered included Norris Cole (rookie point guard).

The 2012 title came in the modern era of load management, threes, and switch-heavy defense. The Miami Heat still had to win four series, usually against teams built to contend rather than tank.

The Miami Heat share a lineage with other banners from 2006, 2013. Compare those seasons on the franchise hub to see how the roster and style changed between title runs.

Looking back, miami won the 2012 title in LeBron James's second season with the Heat, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder in five. James took the first championship and Finals MVP of his career and finished the clincher with a triple-double. The lockout-shortened season ran only 66 games, and Miami went 46-20.

For the full roster beyond the featured starters, see the table on this page. For other Miami Heat titles, use the franchise hub linked below.