To play with one franchise for 20+ seasons is an extremely rare accomplishment in the NBA. Only three players have ever achieved this remarkable feat. Dirk Nowitzki played 21 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks. Kobe Bryant played 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. However, those two were the premiere star players on their respective teams for the vast majority of their tenured careers. When teams select a highly talented prospect, like Dirk and Kobe, early in the NBA draft, they tend to have the hope that the player will spend most of their career starring for their respective franchise.
So, for an undrafted player who is not highly coveted coming into the NBA, to spend 20 seasons with one team, is unheard of. But that is what makes the career of Miami Heat legend, Udonis Haslem, a truly special one. Over his 20 seasons with the Heat, Haslem’s role on the team changed many times. However, his value on the team never wavered. With Haslem recently confirming his retirement from the NBA, it’s worth taking a look back at the incredible career of Mr. 305 himself.
Reflecting on the Memorable Career of Udonis Haslem
Going From Undrafted Rookie to NBA Championship Team Starter
Prior to the NBA, Udonis Haslem spent his entire 4-year collegiate career playing for the University of Florida. Haslem was the starting center for the Florida Gators and was named to the All-SEC team all 4 years. He helped the Gators rise to prominence in the NCAA through his leadership and rigid style of play.
Despite his collegiate success, Haslem went undrafted in the 2002 NBA Draft. This was largely due to him being undersized for a forward/center in the NBA, measuring at just 6’6. Haslem signed with the Chalon-Sur-Saône of the French LNB Pro A for the 2002-2003 season. He averaged 16.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game for the season.
Haslem’s performance overseas landed him a contract in August of 2003 with his hometown team, the Miami Heat. As a rookie, Haslem showed promise in Miami. In 75 games played, he averaged 7.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game along with great defensive effort. Haslem earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors and helped the Heat reach the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Haslem’s rookie season performance earned him a starting nod in his second season with the team. During the 2004-2005 season, Haslem started in 80 games for Miami, playing around 33 minutes per game. He averaged 10.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, while ranking 4th in the league in field goal percentage.
The following season, in just Haslem’s second year as a starter, the Miami Heat would win their first-ever NBA championship. Haslem had 17 points and 10 rebounds in the title-clinching game against the Dallas Mavericks. From that point on, Haslem remained as a starter for the next three seasons, and a core member of the Dwyane Wade-led Miami Heat from 2007-2010.
Part of the Miami Heat Dynasty
In July 2010, the Miami Heat would undergo one of the most transformative offseasons for any team in league history. The Heat acquired Lebron James and Chris Bosh in free agency, joining Wade to form the league’s prominent big three. Pat Riley went from coach to team president, now assigning the coaching responsibilities to a young up-and-coming coach in Erik Spoelstra.
Being a part of many championship-caliber teams, Riley understood that it was going to take a little more than the Heat’s three stars alone to deliver another championship.
For this reason, the Heat extended a five-year $20 million dollar offer to Haslem to stay in Miami. While Haslem could have received more money from better offers he had with other teams, he decided to stick with the Heat and be a part of something special.
Haslem would miss the majority of the Heat Dynasty’s first finals run in 2011 with a torn ligament in his foot. The Heat would lose to the Mavericks in 6 games in those finals.
Despite their first-year blunder, the Heat would go on to win back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013. While Haslem’s role was reduced during those two years, he still played a key part as a role player for the Heat. Haslem provided a lot on the defensive end, serving as one of the Heat’s best post defenders. He also recorded the best-rebounding percentages of his career during those two seasons.
In November 2012, Haslem passed Alonzo Mourning as the Heat’s franchise leader in total rebounds with 4,808.
Although they came up short against the San Antonio Spurs in their last finals run in 2014, the Heat had an overall incredible 4-year run. Haslem served as a key contributor both on and off the court for that Miami Heat dynasty.
The Later Years as a Team Leader
From 2015 to 2023, Haslem’s role took a shift. From being a starter and key role player on the Heat’s previous teams, Haslem now took on more of a player-coach role during his later years.
While Haslem’s role on the court was mostly nonexistent during his final eight seasons, this did not stop the Heat legend from still reaching many milestones.
During the 2019-2020 season, Haslem became the first modern-era undrafted player to play at over 40 years of age. On May 13, 2021, in his single-season game played, Haslem became the oldest player in the last two decades to get ejected after a scuffle with Dwight Howard.
In his final regular season game on April 9, 2023, Haslem had a night to remember. Haslem scored 24 points in 25 minutes in a 123-110 win over the Orlando Magic. He became only the second 42-year-old in NBA history to score 24 or more points.
Haslem only appeared in 102 regular season games over his final eight seasons. He agreed to mostly one-year deals from 2016-2023. This allowed Haslem to not only remain as one of the Heat’s lead locker room presences but also afforded the team flexibility in continuing to build contending rosters.
In 2020, and most recently in 2023, the Heat were Eastern Conference Champions and made NBA Finals appearances. Haslem became the oldest player in NBA history to play in a finals game after entering the end of game 3 against the Denver Nuggets these past finals.
This time around, however, those Heat teams in 2020 and 2023 were mainly constructed of young, undrafted players, as opposed to the veteran player-filled rosters during the Heat’s dynasty era. To have a player like Haslem, who knows firsthand the challenges of making an impact as an undrafted and underrated player, meant a lot for the Heat’s recent successes.
Last Word on Udonis Haslem’s Incredible Career
For the Miami Heat, there really couldn’t be a much better player than Udonis Haslem to have on the team for 20 incredible years. Haslem represented ‘Heat Culture’ in every way. His toughness, durability, leadership, and determination defined both his and the Heat’s most notable traits. Haslem was a main staple on a lot of incredible Heat teams over the last 20 years, and his value to this franchise was truly priceless.
Now, Haslem can hopefully enjoy retirement while reflecting on an incredible career. Hopefully, he and his family will also see No. 40 hung in the rafters soon with the Heat delightedly set on retiring Mr. 305’s number, deservingly so.
