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Miami Heat: 25 Best Players To Play For The Heat

By Phil Watson

May 9, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; A general view of the Miami Heat logo is seen center court before game four of the second round of the NBA Playoffs between the Toronto Raptors and the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
May 9, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; A general view of the Miami Heat logo is seen center court before game four of the second round of the NBA Playoffs between the Toronto Raptors and the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 2, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward Shane Battier (31) is pressured by Golden State Warriors small forward Andre Iguodala (9) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward Shane Battier (31) is pressured by Golden State Warriors small forward Andre Iguodala (9) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

24. player. 110. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Free agent, Dec. 9, 2011.. SF. 2011-14. Shane Battier

Shane Battier was one of the many veteran role players brought in by the Miami Heat during the Big Three era, signing as a free agent when the NBA lockout ended in December 2011.

Battier’s job was to defend the 3 and shoot the 3 and he did both effectively while playing on three straight NBA Finals clubs.

MIA_24_BATTIER
MIA_24_BATTIER /

He started all five games of the Heat’s NBA Finals victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012, averaging 11.6 points and 3.4 rebounds in 37.5 minutes per game on .613/.577/5-for-7 shooting, including back-to-back 17-point performances in the first two games of the series.

Battier played a lesser role in the seven-game victory over the San Antonio Spurs in the 2013 NBA Finals, coming off the bench in  each game to average 5.6 points in 12.4 minutes per game on .444/.444/3-for-3 shooting.

He played in four of the five games in 2014, when Miami lost the rematch to the Spurs, averaging 8.2 minutes per game and shooting 0-for-2/0-for-2/—.

Battier opted to retire in June 2014 after the Heat lost in the Finals.

In three seasons in Miami, he averaged 5.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 22.6 minutes per game, shooting .398/.382/.714.

A two-time All-American and the consensus national player of the year as a senior at Duke, Battier helped the Blue Devils to a national championship before he was selected with the sixth overall pick by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 2001 NBA Draft.

The team moved to Memphis shortly after the draft and Battier was a first-team All-Rookie pick in 2001-02.

Traded to the Houston Rockets in July 2006, Battier earned two All-Defensive nods with the Rockets.

He was traded back to the Grizzlies in February 2011 before entering free agency.

Battier is 41st in NBA history with 1,250 three-pointers.

Next: Employee No. 8 Punched In For A Champion

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