Udonis Haslem has been a thorough Miami Heat man since the start of his NBA career, and in what comes as a shocker, he has scored only 76 points in his last five seasons with the franchise.
The ongoing season sees him average 0.5 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.0 assists. He played 13 games last season, his highest in the last five years, and averaged 2.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.3 assists. He has scored just 3 points this season and has predominantly been on the bench for the side.
That said, the 2022-23 season is pretty much his last dance with the said as a player, and he did garner quite the attention when he announced he was coming back for his final season.
It’s astounding that Haslem has survived a performance-oriented league where players have dropped 50+ points regularly. The likes of Donovan Mitchell and Damian Lillard posted 71 points in a single game this season — a far cry from Haslem’s 76 in five years.
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.”
The veteran may not be the force he once was, and for a player who contributed to both aspects of the game during his prime, Haslem is still a vital cog in the Miami locker room with his mentorship. So sometimes, it’s not just about the on-court performances but about stars who can make an impact while not playing.
Udonis Haslem Confirms That He Will Retire After This Season
The veteran announced that this would be his last season before the start of the edition, and with the regular season drawing to a close, he reconfirmed that he would be calling time on his illustrious career.
“I’m done. I’m done no matter what happens,” Haslem remarked. “I gave my contribution. I think at this stage, there needs to be another voice for these guys. It’s time for somebody to step up and be the voice.”
In his 20-year run with the Heat, Haslem has notched up 7.5 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 0.8 APG, good numbers for a role player in the league. In addition, he has also won three NBA Championships with the franchise.
The Heat recently announced that they would be naming a section of the arena after the 42-year-old. According to the Miami Herald, the franchise’s move also includes murals and pictures of him as a token of their gratitude to a loyal player.
The biggest gift though would be the Heat winning another championship for the veteran, making his final run a successful one.
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