Heat decline to give tribute video to 2 notable ex-players
Nov 9, 2018; Miami, FL, USA; A detailed view of the special Miami Heat Vice Nights logo on the court prior to the game between the between the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
The Miami Heat are curbing the trend of “everybody gets a tribute video.”
Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reported this week that the Heat, who will host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, will not be giving tribute videos to current Sixers players Kyle Lowry and Caleb Martin. The reason, Chiang adds, is that Miami reserves those for players who either won a championship or made an All-Star appearance while with their team.
Lowry and Martin are two former Heat players who both fit the mold of playoff heroes. They helped Miami make it to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2022 and then to the NBA Finals in 2023. Martin especially was a huge factor during the 2023 Finals run by the Heat, very nearly winning ECF MVP for his incredible series against the Boston Celtics.
But Lowry and Martin were only with Miami for three seasons each and indeed failed to achieve any concrete accolades while with the team. In this NBA era of even role players who never got past the second round receiving tribute videos from their old clubs, the stance here by the Heat is a breath of fresh air.
