Heat retire Udonis Haslem's No. 40 jersey

MIAMI (AP) — Udonis Haslem averaged 7.5 points and 6.6 rebounds in his career. He never made an All-Star team. Never had a triple-double. Never signed anything close to a max contract. Never even won a player of the week award.

The stats might seem ordinary.

However, for the Miami Heat, he will always be a legend.

The Miami-born individual, who dedicated his entire 20-year career to playing for the Heat and was part of three championship teams while serving as captain in 16 seasons, witnessed his No. 40 jersey, now retired, being hoisted to the rafters on Friday night. It was the climax of his career which transitioned him from being an undrafted player to one that was virtually unbeatable.

“Everyone is betting that I’ll break down in tears, right? I’m aware that you all anticipate me to cry,” said Haslem. “Indeed, it’s tough. It’s tough. It’s tough. To the Heat Nation, serving you has been a true privilege, my friends.”

He halted, evidently wiping away tears that were welling up behind the sunglasses he wore in the dimly lit arena. Overwhelmed with emotion, he couldn’t read the prepared remarks. Instead, he spoke extemporaneously, expressing gratitude to almost every member of the organization, his family, and former teammates.

Haslem also expressed his appreciation to the entire Miami area, denoted by the 305 area code.

“He said, “You must uphold the 305. Tonight, we all celebrate, 305.”

Haslem, presently serving as the Heat’s vice president of player development and aspiring to eventually become part of the team’s ownership group, is the sixth player to have his jersey retired by the Heat. The other players who have received this honor are Chris Bosh (No. 1), Dwyane Wade (No. 3), Tim Hardaway (No. 10), Shaquille O’Neal (No. 32), and Alonzo Mourning (No. 33).

Haslem’s jersey is not the last one to be retired by the Heat, as they have already announced plans to eventually retire LeBron James’s No. 6. The five earlier players honored with jersey retirements by the Heat have already been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Pat Riley, President of the Heat, also stated that Haslem’s legacy deserves recognition and celebration.

“Udonis Haslem’s impact was significant and influential,” stated Riley. “This is one of the reasons we’re honoring him by hanging his jersey today. Udonis Haslem is sure to leave a substantial legacy.”

Numerous gifts were given including a $50,000 check to his foundation from the Heat’s charitable fund, a commemorative jersey, a duplicate of the retirement banner, and three new seats in the arena dedicated to Haslem’s late father, mother, and stepmother.

Haslem, the all-time rebounding leader of the franchise, was the oldest active NBA player at 43 when he retired after the previous season. He also set a record as the oldest player to participate in an NBA Finals game. This happened just two days before his 43rd birthday, during the championship round last year when the Heat faced off against the Nuggets.

Over his final seven NBA seasons, he participated in 65 regular-season games. Some analysts frequently wondered why Haslem remained an active player. The Heat, however, scoffed at these criticisms, asserting that Haslem’s contribution as a mentor, his presence in the locker room, and his role on the practice court were priceless.

Goran Dragic, who was one of the many former teammates present at Friday’s ceremony, said, “He dedicated 20 years to a single organization and extended his help to everyone he could during that period. He is truly deserving of this.”

Bam Adebayo, the Heat center who took over as Miami’s captain this season, added, “He was the glue. It’s easy for people to focus on stats and who has the highest average, but he was the one who held everyone together. I believe the players who serve as the glue are the most important members of a team.”

Orlando coach, Jamahl Mosley, expressed his regret at not being able to attend the ceremony. He wanted to be there to pay homage to Haslem’s toughness and the significance of his contribution to the league.

“Mosley said, ‘This just illustrates the influence you can exert on an organization, community, and your fellow players when you refrain from making it all about yourself. I believe he’s a perfect example of this. He is the embodiment of the ‘Heat Culture’, he represents his true self, his involvement in the community, and Dade County. It’s his identity.”

The arena that the Heat consider their home is filled with grand reminders of Haslem’s 20-year contributions. Images of him hoisting NBA championship trophies, evidences of a playoff altercation against Indiana resulting in a bleeding temple, and pictures of his celebratory act of pouring a Gatorade bucket over Heat coach Erik Spoelstra’s head are ubiquitous.

Spoelstra stated, “As the Miami Heat organization, we are committed to not only perpetually celebrating his legacy but also educating people about it. His legacy holds significance for the league too. I hope it gets acknowledged and recognized across the league so that the up-and-coming generation of players can comprehend what being an ultimate winner entails.”