Guest of the podcast “The Pivot”, Udonis Haslem looked back over his entire career, from his debut at the Florida Gators to his time in France, in Chalon-sur-Saône, to finally seize the chance of his life by committing to the Heat, the franchise of his hometown, for an adventure that has lasted since 2003.
For several years, UD has been contributing its stone to the building as part of the locker room rather than through its performance on the field. If he is still part of Erik Spoelstra’s squad at 42, it is because he is invaluable in his work of coaching and supporting the youngest to help them reach their full potential.
With his experience, he also sometimes gives advice to other players than those of Miami.
“I’m not just a team veteran anymore, I’m a bit of a league veteran. I have relationships with guys all over the league. You’d be surprised how many young guys come to me. With social networks, you can interact with everyone. Guys from other teams message me to ask me questions”, he thus explained.
His role echoes the situation of Ja Morant in Memphis, that of a young superstar who obviously lacks a framework or a veteran of the caliber of Udonis Haslem at his side to try to keep him on the right track.
Between the street and the NBA, you have to choose
The Heat strong winger sees similarities with his career, especially at the start of his career, when he had to sort through his environment to remain a professional and successful NBA player.
As such, UD would like to mentor Ja Morantmuch like he was with D-Wade by protecting him on and off the pitch, and giving him the right advice.
“I would like to have a relationship with him. I also talk to his father. I understand where they come from, I understand their environment… I also know the pressure one can feel to remain authentic. I will therefore show how to evolve in this environment while enjoying life and maintaining this independence from who you are and what you represent, but as it should be. ‘Cause there’s a right way to do it.”.
“UD” also acknowledged that Ja Morant was playing a dangerous game by wanting to evolve both in a “gang atmosphere” while now being an NBA superstar, adding that the context is much more dangerous today.
” I did not change. I changed little things and I changed my life, I changed it a little, but I didn’t change. I am very happy to be where I am today, because you can still live this life. But you can’t act like you’re on the street. You can be from the neighborhood, but you can’t be from the street. There is a difference. You have to stay off the street today. It’s a completely different playing field. I’m not on the street. I can not do that “he continued. “I was in the street, but all my friends who came from the street looked at me saying that they were happy that I left. But the picture is no longer the same today. The rules of the game have changed. I was lucky in my time. But for this generation, it’s too much, too much is happening. You can’t have it both ways.”
| 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 | 6 | 8 | 8.3 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.5 |
| Total | 878 | 25 | 48.9 | 9.4 | 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.
