
"Y'all bet that I'm going to cry like this? I know it's hard. It's been an honor."
Udonis Haslem dedicated two decades of his career to the Miami Heat, playing for them from 2003 to 2023. Remarkably, he remained loyal to the Heat throughout his entire professional career, with no stints at other teams. The only exception was a brief period with the French team Elan Chalon during the 2002-03 season before joining the NBA.
Interestingly, Haslem wasn't selected in the 2002 NBA Draft, but he defied the odds to make a significant impact with the Heat. He assumed the role of team captain from the 2007-08 season until his retirement in the previous year.
His time with the Heat included three NBA championships in 2006, 2012, and 2013. Haslem's contributions were recognized when he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2004.
Even in retirement, Haslem remains connected to the Heat, having been appointed as the club's vice president of basketball development. Over his NBA career, he maintained regular season averages of 7.5 points and 6.6 rebounds with an impressive 48.9% field goal shooting.