Pat Riley was teary-eyed while explaining the impact Udonis Haslem had in his 20 years with the NBA, all with the Miami Heat.
Speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, Riley got emotional when he recalled the death of his brother in 2020. He remembered the call he received from his nephew and how Haslem was there to console him during his time of grief.
“I was just hanging on the chain link fence. And then I felt this hand on my shoulder,” Riley said, his voice cracking. “And it was UD. He said, ‘I got you.’ He walked me to my car … that’s the kind of man he is. He’s special, he’s unique, we’re gonna miss him, but he’ll be around.”
“March 9th was the night that I found out my brother died… I felt this hand on my shoulder, and it was [Udonis Haslem]. He said ‘I got you’… That’s the kind of man he is.”
Pat Riley gets emotional speaking about Udonis Haslem 🥹
(via @Brendan_Tobin)pic.twitter.com/ZmghnERcuY
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 20, 2023
Haslem signed with the Heat in 2003 as an undrafted free agent and has since won three championships with the franchise. He is their all-time rebounds leader, ending his career with 7.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in his 879 games for the team.
But what made him special in Riley’s eyes was the influence that he was — something that the Heat will sorely miss heading into next season. Haslem called time on his decorated career this year, but Miami knows where to find the veteran when they need help.
The Heat Have Greatly Benefited With Udonis Haslem In Their Ranks
The veteran may not have been the force he once was, and for a man who contributed to both aspects of the game during his prime, Haslem was still a vital cog in the Miami locker room with his morale-boosting mentorship.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra outlined his value earlier. According to FanNation: “I love having him lead and mentor every single day,” he said. “I think his genius is the fact that he’s developing mentors around him, the next round of mentors, the guys who will be caretakers for this culture and help bring along other guys.”
Sometimes, the value of a player is more than just the numbers. And Haslem is a classic example of how he was a leader who had the respect of his teammates. And perhaps the Heat naming a section of the arena after the 42-year-old is a fitting tribute.
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