It seems that the Miami Heat were just snubbed in the most public way possible by the NBA after the release of their 2025-26 schedule. The NBA scheduling the Heat to play just five games on national television is a clear sign that the league doesn't believe that they are contenders any longer.
The fact Heat has just five national TV games (two Amazon, one NBC, one Peacock, 1 ESPN) is sobering and reflects where franchise is with regard to sexiness/championship competitiveness. ESPN's Tim Legler said he's "a little bored" with the Heat & he's probably not alone. https://t.co/L8K7rcrDEA
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) August 14, 2025
To be fair to the NBA, the Heat lost 10 straight games late last season before rallying to make the playoffs.
However, they were swept in the first round and did little this summer to change the perception that they could contend post-Jimmy Butler. In their defense, they did make several solid moves, such as drafting Kasparas Jakucionis, trading for Norm Powell, and bringing back Davion Mitchell on an affordable deal.
Those moves, along with bringing back Andrew Wiggins, who is a polarizing but still useful player, give the Heat a more than competent 10-man rotation. It's just anyone's guess how well they will actually play next season.
The NBA is right to be skeptical of the Miami Heat
Although the Heat have developed a reputation for overachieving, that was with teams that featured Butler. This team has the chance to be better than in recent years, but they will have to show it and prove doubters wrong.
If Tyler Herro plays like he did last season and Bam Adebayo plays like he did during the second half of last season, then that gives them a great baseline in a weakened East. The best-case scenario is probably a top-four seed.
But still well behind the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks in terms of Eastern Conference pecking order. The worst-case scenario is yet another appearance in the play-in tournament. Even so, they should have enough talent to make the playoffs barring injuries or them underperforming.
The Heat have a wide range of possible outcomes for next season
Even so, it's clear that this isn't the same team that made the Eastern Conference Finals three times in four years and the NBA Finals twice in that same span. It's all cyclical, so teams that were bad when the Heat was great are suddenly on the rise.
The Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs are case in point, with both teams having far more nationally televised games. Nevetheless, the Heat can still prove the league and doubters wrong by overachieving.
Ultimately, the Heat getting snubbed by the league isn't unwarranted given the uncertainty surrounding them. However, they also have enough talent and play in a weak enough conference to be better than many suspect next season.