It was only a matter of time before Udonis Haslem’s jersey was retired by the Miami Heat. The team revealed on Friday that it will take place in January. The Heat announced plans to retire Haslem’s No. 40 jersey on Jan. 19 against the Atlanta Hawks. The jersey retiring ceremony will take place during the game’s halftime. “It’s about a great legacy, a Thank You moment that has been earned over 20 years of being an incredible championship player and most importantly, the best leader,” Pat Riley, the president of the Miami Heat, told reporters. “He’s going to have his day and I can’t wait to see his jersey hang in the rafters.”
Haslem, who retired at the end of last season after a 20-year NBA career, will join Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade as the sixth Heat player to have his jersey retired. However, Haslem will be the only player on that list who will not be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. That’s because Haslem’s Heat career was one-of-a-kind. Haslem is the Heat’s all-time leading rebounder, as well as a leader in games played (second), minutes played (second), and field goals made (fifth). But it was his longevity and leadership that made him a Heat legend.
After going undrafted in 2002, Haslem, a Miami native who attended Miami High before attending the University of Florida, spent each of his 20 NBA seasons with his hometown Heat. He went on to play a role on the franchise’s three championship teams in 2006, 2012, and 2013, becoming the only undrafted player in NBA history to lead a team in total rebounds.
Haslem is only the third player in NBA history to have spent his whole career with the same franchise for at least 20 seasons. Dirk Nowitzki (21 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks) and Kobe Bryant (20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers) are also on the short list, but Haslem is the only one to do it in his hometown. Haslem also served as Heat captain for the final 16 seasons of his career. Haslem has already secured a new career in the organisation after only a few months of retirement. Haslem was hired as the Heat’s vice president of basketball development last month. The Heat’s news release announcing Haslem’s employment cites his new front office responsibilities as “being a resource to the coaching staff.”
And Haslem’s Heat jersey will soon be hung in the Kaseya Centre rafters.
