Years from now, when people talk of great NBA dynasties, they will speak of this. When future fans think back to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls of the ’90s, with their All-Star cast and six NBA Championships, they’ll speak of this. When they reminisce about Kobe and Shaq co-existing in the city of Angels just long enough to reign in a three-peat of NBA Championships, they’ll speak of this. When Heat fans joyfully remember LeBron’s 2010 promise of winning multiple championships in Miami, ” . . . not 2, not 3, not 4, not 5, not 6, not 7,” and just how right he was, they’ll still speak of this. Now, you can take every opportunity to grab your Miami Heat Champs Apparel while this historic moment lasts.

‘The Big Three’ and the Beginning of a Dynasty

It was several years in the making, but in 2010, the Miami Heat finally had what they pinned their dreams and built their future upon: “The Big Three”. On July 9, LeBron James took his “talents to South Beach” and joined Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat, and with that, a dynasty was born.

The Heat’s season-opener against the Boston Celtics on October 26, 2010 was the most-watched NBA game ever on cable television. Playing for their first time as a team, and against 2009′s Eastern Conference Champs Celtics, LeBron and the rest of the Heat endured chants of “Overrated!” while falling to Boston 88-80. On that night, it was clear to all 7.4 million people who watched the game that you can’t just buy an NBA Championship, like you buy a Miami Heat Champs T-Shirt — it’s something you have to earn. And, earn it, they did.

James, Bosh and Wade would continue to gel during the 2010-2011 season and end up with Miami’s third-best record ever, going 58-24 and grabbing the NBA’s second overall seed going into the 2011 playoffs. The newly formed Heat squad made it to the 2011 NBA Finals, but fell to the Dallas Mavericks in 6 games with LeBron James’ performance and drop-off in points average being a sore subject for many Heat fans as well as critics.

The 2011-2012 NBA season saw a new look from the Heat and from 8-time All-Star LeBron, who vowed not to repeat his lackluster post-season performance. Miami made big off-season moves, including the acquisition of NBA veterans and former first-round picks Shane Battier and Eddy Curry. The Heat would go on to finish the lockout-shortened season with a 46-20 record , snag another second overall seed in the NBA Playoffs, and move even closer to wearing their Miami Heats Champs Hats.

The 2012 NBA Playoffs and a First Ring

In the first round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs, the Miami Heat defeated the New York Knicks and went onto best the Indiana Pacers in the Conference semifinals. It was during the Eastern Conference Finals against Boston that Miami’s hopes of a second NBA Championship looked the bleakest, as the Heat lost three games in a row to the Celtics, including one at home. But, Miami fought back and won the next two games to reach the NBA Finals and a duel against new kids on the block Oklahoma City Thunder.

Kevin Durant and company took care of the Heat in the opening game of the 2012 NBA Finals with a 105-94 victory at home. But, that was as close as the OKC Thunder would get to tasting NBA Championship glory as LeBron James and the rest of the Heat went on to win the next four games in a row — closing out the 2012 season with an NBA Finals Championship in Miami. While they’re cutting down the net in American Airlines Arena, you can be putting up an order for your own Heat NBA Finals Champs Gear.