Miami Heat: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

2. Glen Rice (SG/SF) — No. 4 pick in 1989 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Heat):  478 GP, 19.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 1.8 TOV, 45.9 FG%, 38.6 3P%, 83.5 FT%

The first unquestionably great player on our list (and it took all the way until the No. 2 spot) is the incomparable Glen Rice. The Michigan alum wound up being a three-time All-Star (even earning an All-Star Game MVP trophy in 1997), a two-time All-NBA Team member (Second Team in 1997 and Third Team in 1998) and an NBA champion with the Lakers in 2000.

Younger Heat fans who have grown up watching Eric Reid and Tony Fiorentino broadcasts probably remember Rice best as the long-time holder of Miami’s single-game scoring record.

In a regular season matchup against the Orlando Magic in 1995, the unabashed gunner scored 56 points on 20-of-27 shooting, nailing seven of his eight three-pointers along the way. (He also had zero assists, steals or blocks in that game, which is kinda funny.)

His record was ultimately broken by LeBron James in 2014, when he scored 61 against Charlotte.

Rice’s time in Miami came to an end days before the 1995-96 season, when he was packaged in a trade for Alonzo Mourning. He went on to become an even better player as a member of the Hornets, but we can’t really complain about the eventual payoff from that deal.

Historically, Rice ranks third for points scored scored in a Heat jersey, third for three-pointers made and fourth in steals. And if we were to create an All-Time team for the South Florida franchise, he’d play the role of sixth man. He was that good.