Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Udonis Haslem, the Pillar of the Culture

In the Heat’s regular-season finale and official christening of the Kaseya Center, all I hoped for at this point, aside from a throwback night from Udonis Haslem, was one more “clutch game.” This outing didn’t end in a five-point difference, but luckily for everyone watching, the best of the lost season came in game 82.

Haslem, team captain, and 20-year veteran, checked in a few minutes into the first quarter. Instantly, it felt like 2009, watching #40 roll to the cup, hit post jumpers, and even splash three trays in his last 24 minutes of regular season ball ever.

It didn’t matter that it was only his seventh game of the season, and his first action since Miami’s loss on Feb. 2 to the Knicks. Haslem wouldn’t leave the only outfit and fanbase he’s known without a suitable bon voyage.

He logged 13 points in 12 first-half minutes. Somewhere in Brazil, international basketball folk hero Oscar Schmidt must have smirked and bowed his head in approval. Haslem scored more than Mão Santa’s mythical point-a-minute pace, leading the way for the Heatles at the half by two.

On a steal by Caleb Martin that sparked a fastbreak, UD ran a two-on-one with Duncan Robinson against Chuma Okeke. A give-and-return between the streaking Heatles resulted in Haslem finishing a two-handed lob. It was his first alley-oop since late 2014.

As Haslem was interviewed on the court by Bally Sports’ Will Manso, he said, “It’s a little personal. I get a lot of flak for not playing and sitting on the bench, so I think a lot of people just think I drink coffee around here…This was for them. This is their day as much as it is mine. This love affair I’ve had with this organization and city for 20 years is going to continue to grow and continue to grow. I’m looking forward to the next evolution.”

Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were some of UD’s former pals in attendance. I’m disappointed to learn from my spiders there weren’t more. Alonzo Mourning sitting knee-to-knee with Pat Riley doesn’t count; he works as the vice president of player programs.

It leaves a sour taste in my mouth that others couldn’t sacrifice their time after all UD did in return as a teammate. If anyone ever needed protection, mentorship, or a shoulder to lean on in his 20 years of service, they got it.

It would have been splendid to see Ray Allen, Mario Chalmers, Shaquille O’Neal, or just more sometime teammates, but that’s asking too much.

Haslem went undrafted in 2002 following four years of college hoops at the University of Florida. He spent one year in France playing for Élan Chalon and then arrived in Miami as a rookie alongside Wade for the 2004 season. Haslem and Marquis Daniels were the only undrafted players that year on the All-Rookie team.

In the summer before 2004/2005, the Heat traded for O’Neal, rapidly turning into a contender. In that campaign, Miami would challenge the Detroit Pistons to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals but wouldn’t defeat the Dallas Mavericks for the title until June 2006. Haslem started 80 and 81 games, plus he recorded 6,359 minutes through both regular seasons and playoffs combined.

By 2010, Haslem’s role had shifted to a reserve as the Heat’s development of Michael Beasley continued.

Losing a starting spot and nearly seven minutes a game can be difficult for many guys in the league; the ones that separate themselves are the dudes who find a way to star with an alternative duty. Haslem evolved into that player for the Heat as it geared up for the next stage of its history.

Bosh and LeBron James were the prominent figureheads brought in during the summer of 2010 to assist Wade in at least a few more tries at glory. Haslem stayed in town, and he chose the Heat over a more lucrative offer from the Mavericks. Dallas put over $10 million more on the table than Miami, but it wasn’t his style to leave just for an extra “fistful of dollars.” Additionally, Wade, James and Bosh each took less cash so UD could return.

In year two of the Heat’s big three era, Bosh went down with an abdominal strain after 15 minutes in Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers in the Conference Semifinals. Haslem started the first and second matches of the series, but for the encounter, Spo started Shane Battier at the four from Games 3 through 6.

In this series, UD only averaged 16.9 minutes a night, but those numbers don’t accurately portray his impact. With the Heat minus an All-Star, the Pacers smelled blood and even took a 2-1 lead in Indiana. Miami tied up the series, and in Game 5, Tyler Hansbrough cracked Wade over the head on a drive to the rim.

Haslem saw the mugging up close and didn’t think much of the bullies standing on the opposite side. A couple of minutes later, in the second quarter, he reciprocated with two hands spiking Hansbrough in the face as he attempted a shot at the cup. The Heat would then go on an 86-58 run to finish the night with a dub and take the lead back to Indiana.

Getting even earned UD a suspension in Game 6, but he said he would do it again two days later at the Heat’s practice.

In those four years, #40 was a top locker room lieutenant and a fundamental cog in helping Miami win back-to-back titles.

When James departed for Cleveland, a new chapter of Heat basketball started with Wade, Bosh, and Haslem in command. By 2015/2016, UD’s role developed into mostly a mentor as the squad had two new rookies and was reloading for a shot at the Cavaliers.

Wade would then leave over a contract dispute with the front office that summer, but as the Heat were beginning a rebuild, a single player remained from the Big Three days: Haslem.

Two difficult years produced the draft picks that landed Miami Adebayo and Tyler Herro. Also in 2019, the Heat landed Butler in a four-team sign-and-trade while unloading the dispirited Hassan Whiteside and his hefty deal. Suddenly, the White and Red had a respectable squad again, with Haslem, as always, providing counsel.

In the 2020 season, after Miami’s Game 3 loss to Boston in the East Finals, the captain offered advice. Butler told me after the match, UD was telling the group to be the “nastier” team as far back as halftime. The group followed his recommendations, then defeated Boston in six and extended the series to six against Lebron’s Lakers in the Finals.

While Miami was down double-digits in the third quarter of Game 2 versus Los Angeles, Haslem delivered a raging speech as players and coaches listened around him. He called for a gut check. Not every guy who has logged 44 games in the last four seasons (at that point) could hold the attention of so many peers.

The morning of Game 7 of the East Finals of 2022, Max Strus told me that because of all UD’s experience, the Heat relied on him as its motivator. “Another guy on our team that’s been here, has done these, has been in Game 7s, has won championships…”

He may not have recorded a minute of postseason action then, or any year since 2016, but the Heat wouldn’t have made it that far without him. While he wore white hot, Miami competed in six NBA Finals, winning three.

Richie Havens, the first person to perform at Woodstock in 1969, would later sing in 2003, “can’t turn back the hands of time.”

If only I could for Haslem. I blinked, and now I can only talk about him with a minority of people who have seen him and know what he is about. Not every team is lucky enough to have a guy like Udonis, much less two decades. Aside from the lost tapes, I don’t know the Heat without him.