The league’s oldest player (which, in this instance, is a very liberal interpretation of “player”) Udonis Haslem has finally decided to hang up his Nikes, announcing his plans to retire after the 2023 season. Undrafted out of Florida, Haslem came from humble beginnings, launching his career overseas before collecting three titles with his hometown Heat.
Haslem has played sparingly in recent years, to the point where most casual fans would be surprised to learn he’s still on Miami’s roster. In fact, the 6'7" forward has appeared in all of six games this season, shooting a combined 1-for-12 (8.3 percent) with three points over that span. Even when he was still getting consistent minutes, Haslem was never a box-score stuffer, finding his niche as a low-post enforcer in the mold of Kendrick Perkins.
No longer of much use on the court, Haslem has largely transitioned into a coaching role, serving as a veteran mentor to young players like Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. Despite his minimal contributions of late, spending his later career as a de facto mascot while toiling on Miami’s bench, the Heat are rolling out the red carpet for Haslem’s retirement, sparing no expense in celebrating the longest-tenured player in franchise history.
The four-day event, which the Heat are calling “4 Days of 40” (alluding to his uniform number), will commence March 23rd with Haslem’s appearance at Jr. Heat Spring Camp, where he’ll hold a Q&A and sign autographs for local youth players at SLAM Miami Charter School. Other planned festivities include “UD Night” March 25th at Miami-Dade Arena (the Heat are dedicating Section 305, a reference to the city’s area code, in his honor) and a tribute at the following day’s Heat Family Festival, where fans can cop new Haslem merchandise (the “UD Collection” will be released March 24th) courtesy of the team’s lifestyle and clothing brand, “Court Culture.”
Whether Haslem is deserving of such an elaborate sendoff is up for debate—his career averages (7.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 0.8 assists) don’t exactly scream “Hall of Fame.” But as a Heat lifer born and raised in Miami, UD is certainly deserving of some recognition, honoring the career and legacy of a player whose impact went far beyond his counting stats.
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