Udonis Haslem

Miami Heat legend and three-time NBA champion.

Udonis Johneal Haslem (born June 9, 1980) is an American professional basketball executive and former player. He is the vice president of basketball development for the Miami Heat, where he spent his entire 20-year playing career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Haslem is one of only three players in NBA history to play at least 20 years with one team. He played college basketball for the Florida Gators, where he was a key member of four NCAA tournament teams. Haslem began his professional career in France with Chalon-sur-Saône and then signed with his hometown team, the Miami Heat, in 2003, leaving as the longest-tenured player in franchise history when he retired 20 years later. Haslem won three NBA championships in 2006, 2012 and 2013.

Quick Facts

Team: Miami Heat
Position: Vice president of basketball development
League: NBA
Born: 9 June 1980
Birthplace: Miami, Florida, U.S.
High school: Samuel Wolfson (Jacksonville, Florida); Miami Senior (Miami, Florida)
College: Florida (1998–2002)
Career position: Power forward; center

Lore & Background

Haslem was born in Miami. His father, John, played college basketball for the Stetson Hatters from 1972 to 1974. His mother, Debra, was Puerto Rican. Haslem attended Wolfson High School in Jacksonville, Florida, then Miami Senior High School in Miami.

He helped lead Miami High to state titles in 1997 and 1998, playing alongside another future NBA player, Steve Blake. However, an investigation by the Miami New Times revealed that Haslem, Blake and several other players circumvented residency requirements. As a result, Miami High was stripped of its 1998 title and ordered to forfeit its entire schedule. Haslem accepted an athletic scholarship to the University of Florida, where he played for coach Billy Donovan from 1998 to 2002.

His sophomore season saw the team advance to the NCAA championship game before falling to Michigan State 89–76. The Gators received NCAA tournament invitations four consecutive years during Haslem's college career—the first time in the program's history. Haslem averaged 13.7 points per game and 6.7 rebounds. He was named to the coaches' All-SEC team four times: third team in 1999 and 2000, first team in 2001 and 2002.

He ranks third in team history in points (1,782) and tenth in rebounds (831). He was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a 'Gator Great' in 2012.

Reader's Guide

Haslem went undrafted in the 2002 NBA draft. He signed with Chalon-sur-Saône of the French LNB Pro A, averaging 16.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. On August 6, 2003, he signed with the Miami Heat. As a rookie, he earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors.

In 2004–05, he averaged 10.9 points and a career-high 9.1 rebounds. He helped the Heat win their first NBA Championship in 2006. He re-signed with the Heat in August 2005 and again in July 2010 on a five-year deal. In November 2010, he sustained a torn ligament in his foot, sidelining him for the rest of the regular season.

He helped the Heat win championships in 2012 and 2013. In November 2012, he passed Alonzo Mourning to become the franchise leader in total rebounds. After the 2013 NBA Finals, he revealed he had played with a torn right meniscus. In 2013–14, his on-court time diminished.

He re-signed on a two-year deal in July 2014, transitioning into a 'player-coach' role. He re-signed on one-year deals in 2016, 2017, 2018, and on August 6, 2019. During the 2019–20 season, he became the 30th player in league history to play after turning 40, and the first modern era undrafted player to do so. Following Vince Carter's retirement during the suspension of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Haslem became the oldest active player in the NBA.

He re-signed on November 28, 2020. He played in one game in the 2020–21 season, on May 13, 2021, scoring four points before being ejected, making him the oldest player in the last 20 years to get ejected.