There remain, at worst, a few hours, at best, a few days of career at Udonis Haslem. Indeed, the Florida interior will retire at the end of the season and Game 7 against Boston, this Monday evening, could be the last game of his career, at almost 43 years old.
After twenty years of a career entirely spent in Miami, the triple NBA champion (2006, 2012 and 2013) will finally hang up the sneakers.
“I think now is the time. I gave everything I had to give”explains Haslem to Andscape. “I also lost time, things that I could never find. I missed my children’s matches, birthdays, vacations. I’ve come to a point where I realize a lot of people have sacrificed things for me to be in this position. They won’t always be there. I think it’s time to give back what I received. »
With just 65 appearances since the start of the 2016/17 season, the veteran has mostly spent his last few days in the league in a role as a temple keeper to uphold Heat culture and mentor youngsters. Is it necessary in the current NBA to have a kind of “big brother”, a coach in shorts on the bench?
“It should be,” he answers. “If we want to invest in young superstars, it must go beyond the financial aspect. The money is increasing and the players are getting younger and younger. But we put franchises that weigh billions of dollars on the shoulders of young people aged 21 or 22. They don’t even know how to move forward in life, let alone guide a franchise to the title. There is a disconnect between this generation, the leaders and the coaches. It is legitimate. For my part, I look at the players humanely, with their backgrounds, their children. I know the parents of some of my teammates: Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Caleb Martin. I have relationships that go beyond basketball and that’s how I get the best out of players. »
Future co-owner of the Heat?
This discrepancy between the franchises and the players obviously interests Haslem since he imagines the rest of his life on the other side.
“It took me a while, but I see a future for me: becoming a franchise owner. That’s what’s next for me. After all the conversations I’ve had, the information I’ve gathered, the next step is to step into this world and be with people like Mickey Arison. (owner of the Heat) and Pat Riley. »
The question that naturally arises is then the following: could we imagine the interior investing in Miami soon?
” I don’t know. We’ll see. I hope we can have this discussion. I made it clear that was my goal. I want to sit at their table and I’m sure we can find a way to work. I spoke to former athletes who became shareholders like Shaquille O’Neal in Sacramento, and NFL players. With Dwyane Wade also of course, who is my brother, in Utah. I did my homework to find out more. I tick all the boxes, I’m a Miami guy so that would make sense to me. »
| Udonis Haslem | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2003-04 | MIA | 75 | 24 | 45.9 | 0.0 | 76.5 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 6.3 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 7.3 |
| 2004-05 | MIA | 80 | 33 | 54.0 | 0.0 | 79.1 | 3.0 | 6.1 | 9.1 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 10.9 |
| 2005-06 | MIA | 81 | 31 | 50.8 | 0.0 | 78.9 | 2.1 | 5.8 | 7.8 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 9.4 |
| 2006-07 | MIA | 79 | 31 | 49.2 | 0.0 | 68.0 | 2.4 | 5.9 | 8.3 | 1.2 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 10.7 |
| 2007-08 | MIA | 49 | 37 | 46.7 | 0.0 | 81.0 | 2.2 | 6.9 | 9.0 | 1.4 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 12.0 |
| 2008-09 | MIA | 75 | 34 | 51.8 | 0.0 | 75.3 | 2.3 | 6.0 | 8.2 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 10.6 |
| 2009-10 | MIA | 78 | 28 | 49.4 | 0.0 | 76.2 | 2.1 | 5.9 | 8.1 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 9.9 |
| 2010-11 | MIA | 13 | 27 | 51.2 | 0.0 | 80.0 | 2.2 | 5.9 | 8.2 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 8.0 |
| 2011-12 | MIA | 64 | 25 | 42.3 | 0.0 | 81.4 | 1.8 | 5.5 | 7.3 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 6.0 |
| 2012-13 | MIA | 75 | 19 | 51.4 | 0.0 | 71.1 | 1.3 | 4.1 | 5.4 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 3.9 |
| 2013-14 | MIA | 46 | 14 | 50.7 | 0.0 | 56.8 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 3.8 |
| 2014-15 | MIA | 62 | 16 | 44.8 | 20.0 | 70.3 | 1.2 | 3.0 | 4.2 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 4.2 |
| 2015-16 | MIA | 37 | 7 | 37.7 | 11.1 | 75.0 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.6 |
| 2016-17 | MIA | 16 | 8 | 47.8 | 0.0 | 60.0 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.9 |
| 2017-18 | MIA | 14 | 5 | 20.0 | 12.5 | 50.0 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| 2018-19 | MIA | 10 | 7 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 75.0 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.5 |
| 2019-20 | MIA | 4 | 11 | 36.4 | 33.3 | 75.0 | 0.3 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
| 2020-21 | MIA | 1 | 3 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 13 | 6 | 45.2 | 25.0 | 100.0 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 2.5 |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 7 | 10 | 34.5 | 33.3 | 80.0 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 3.9 |
| Total | 879 | 25 | 48.9 | 12.7 | 75.6 | 1.8 | 4.8 | 6.6 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 7.5 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
