Veteran NBA point guard Rafer Alston is returning to the Miami Heat, where he played alongside Dwyane Wade in Wade's rookie season in 2003-04
Veteran NBA point guard Rafer Alston is returning to the Miami Heat, where he played alongside Dwyane Wade in Wade's rookie season in 2003-04.
Alston's contract with the New Jersey Nets was bought out on Tuesday and he cleared waivers on Thursday. About an hour late the Heat announced he was back on board and expected to be with the team when they open a six-game road trip on Friday.
Alston played last season for Orlando, when the Magic reached the NBA finals but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Alston started 13 of New Jersey's first 15 games this season - part of the Nets' woeful 0-18 start. He shooting only 34 percent this season, well below his career average of 38.5 percent, and was averaging only 9.7 points. Even so, the Heat are happy to welcome him back.
"We are thrilled to have Skip back in a Heat uniform, as he brings another set of skills and experience to the point guard position," Heat president Pat Riley said in a statement. "From his time in Miami, we know both his game and him as a person, and we had a great experience with him in the past. We are very happy to have Skip back in the Heat family."
Alston helped Miami close the 2003-04 season with 17 wins in their final 21 games, getting the Heat the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. During that season he became a friend of Wade.
"Veteran guys are so important in this league," Wade said. "They've done it for so long and Skip became a leader. He's a general on the floor, really helps to lead his team."
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