Miami, FL – Another title, another parade.
The Miami Heat celebrated their second straight NBA championship with a parade through the city streets and a rally at American Airlines Arena on Monday.
Buses and trucks carried Heat players, coaches and personnel down Eighth Street and Biscayne Boulevard. Some players sprayed fans lining the streets with super-soaker water guns as confetti rained down.
The Heat captured their third title overall and second in as many years with a seven-game victory over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. Miami won Games 6 and 7 in its building, where fans on Monday joined the festivities.
"It took nine months of incredible sacrifice by everybody in our organization," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who thanked the crowd for their support in Game 7 wins over both the Spurs and Indiana Pacers, Miami's opponent in the Eastern Conference finals. "It's incredible. It was the toughest competition."
Finals MVP LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh -- the Big Three -- were the last players introduced at the rally amid loud music, smoke and strobe lights.
"It was so much hard work," said Bosh. "It was one of the most challenging years we ever had. We came to work every day, knowing what we had to do to accomplish our goal. I can't believe we did it. I'm just a guy on this team playing his part."
Wade has been with the Heat for all three titles.
"To be here celebrating my third championship, who would have thought it?" said Wade. "This one is special. I know the category it puts me in. I know how hard it was to get to this point. To now be here celebrating our third championship is phenomenal."
James has been the MVP of each of the last two Finals.
"It's a grind to be able to win a championship," said James. "When you do it with some great teammates ... it doesn't seem so bad.
"The main thing is championships, and that's all that matters."
Ray Allen, who hit the tying shot in the closing seconds of regulation in Game 6 of the Finals, was also cheered loudly.
"There were so many moments down the stretch that allowed that shot to happen," said Allen. "After Game 7, I can say that shot is the biggest one I hit in my career."
Shane Battier, who stepped up in Game 7 with six 3-pointers, acknowledged it was always a team effort.
"I was not very good for most of the playoffs, but I was proud I was able to show up for my guys," said Battier. "That was what this year was about, doing your job for your brother. What I did in Game 7 is what we did as a group all year long."
The Heat became the sixth franchise to win back-to-back NBA championships and will try to become the first team to win three straight since the Los Angeles Lakers from 2000-02.
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