Eddie Jones

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Jones played for the Miami Heat from 2000 to 2005. He was acquired in a sign-and-trade from the Charlotte Hornets along with Anthony Mason, Ricky Davis, and Dale Ellis for Otis Thorpe, Rodney Buford, Jamal Mashburn, Tim James, and P. J. Brown. During his Heat tenure, he led the team in scoring multiple seasons and helped Miami reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2005, where they lost to the Detroit Pistons in seven games. He was an All-Star once as a Heat player (2000–01).

In Their Own Story

The 2003–04 season tested Jones' leadership as Miami started with seven consecutive losses. Yet, he remained the team's scoring anchor, averaging 17.3 points while sharing offensive duties with Wade, Butler, and Odom. His ability to space the floor was critical; he finished third in the league in total three-point field goals that year. In the playoffs, Jones averaged 13.2 points as the Heat knocked off the New Orleans Hornets in seven games—a series where every game was won by the home team—before their run ended against the top-seeded Indiana Pacers. The following offseason brought massive changes: Miami traded Odom and Butler for Shaquille O'Neal, Jones' former Lakers teammate. Jones moved from shooting guard to small forward, allowing Wade to take over as the primary ball handler. This adjustment sparked a 59-win season and the top seed in the East. In the playoffs, Miami swept New Jersey and Washington before facing the defending champion Detroit Pistons. After taking a 3–2 series lead, the Heat suffered an injury to Wade, and the Pistons rallied to win Game 6 in Detroit and Game 7 in Miami. Jones averaged 13.7 points throughout the postseason, his final act as a Heat player before being traded away.

Reader's Guide

Jones played shooting guard and small forward for Miami. He was a key three-point shooter and scorer, averaging 17.4 points in 2000–01, 18.3 in 2001–02, 18.5 in 2002–03, 17.3 in 2003–04, and 12.7 in 2004–05. He started 81 games in 2001–02 and led the team in scoring in each of his first four seasons. In the 2005 playoffs, he averaged 13.7 points as the Heat reached the Eastern Conference Finals.

Did You Know?

• Jones was an All-Star once as a Heat player (2000–01); his other two All-Star selections were with the Lakers.
• The Heat lost Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Pistons in 2005, not the NBA Finals.
• Jones averaged 13.7 points per game during the Heat's run to the 2005 Eastern Conference Finals.
• The 0–7 start mentioned in the source occurred in the 2003–04 season, not 2007.