Locker room boss, mentor and guarantor of Heat Culture, Udonis Haslem has decided to return this summer for a twentieth and final season in the colors of Miami. The opportunity to enjoy this legend of the franchise one last time.
He had decided to take the time to reflect and it was towards the end of August that Udonis Haslem decided. No, Mr. 305 won’t be putting away the sneakers this summer, the interior is having a last season, the twentieth of his NBA career. A choice that might seem strange since the player has hardly seen the field for several seasons already (58 games in 6 years) but Udo’s contribution is not counted in points, rebounds, minutes played or highlights. A native of Miami, the very embodiment of Heat Culture, Haslem is there to transmit the values of the franchise, this blue-collar mentality, to the young guard who will take over. This means setting an example, providing advice whenever necessary, knowing how to reframe a player in the group if he gets out of line, or even downright ranting about Jimmy Butler in the middle of a match. A valuable asset for the management, which did not hesitate to send a delegation from the start of the Free Agency to convince the veteran to return for a twentieth season in South Beach.
This milestone of 20 seasons is obviously legendary in the NBA since only eight players have managed to reach it, including two with the same franchise (Kobe Bryant for the Lakers and Dirk Nowitzki for the Mavs) but it is also very special for Haslem, who had set this goal in discussion with his father. The death of the latter in August 2021 obviously marked the player, who decided to go to the end of this common dream by putting on the blue heater once again, one last time. His “Last Ride” as he says himself. So what to expect from the veteran for this last lap then? We are not going to dream, the playing time should not fly much higher compared to the last seasons. In terms of stats, we should not expect a big change when he is already the best rebounder in the history of the franchise, 2nd in games and minutes played and 4th in the number of double-doubles.
Gesticulating on the bench, chatting between four eyes with the youngest, speaking during time-out to energize the guys on the field, it’s clearly on the program but the best gift that Heat players could give their mentor would be to get one last ring to close the loop in the best possible way. Pat Riley’s men went to an NBA Finals game in the last Playoffs. And if they offered a last title to Udo’ before his departure?
Udonis Haslem returns to the fray with the Heat for the twentieth time. A twentieth season for his father, a twentieth to finish what he started in 2003, a twentieth for his city, before going to store his jersey on the ceiling of the FTX Arena.