Miami Heat's Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra Praise Udonis Haslem Amidst Jersey Retirement
Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem celebrates his jersey being retired on Jan. 19 after his 20-year career with the team.
One of the first to speak on Haslem's impact on the team was Heat president Pat Riley, who discussed Haslem's role as a player and mentor.
"It's about a great legacy," Riley said in a statement. "A thank you moment that has been earned over 20 years of being an incredible championship player and most importantly, the best leader. He's going to have his day and I can't wait to see his jersey hang in the rafters."
Haslem played for the Heat for two decades, winning three championships in seven Finals appearances. He joined Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki as the only players in league history to play at least 20 years with the same team.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra also chimed in to congratulate him, saying Haslem embodied the idea of "Heat Culture" during his playing years.
"I'm definitely looking forward to the celebration and honoring UD," Spoelstra said. "He is the face of our culture."
Haslem joins Dwyane Wade, Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Hardaway, and Chris Bosh as players to have their names hung in basketball infamy for South Florida.
While he didn't have the statistics or accolades as other Heat legends, Haslem's gritty play style and contributions to the team were recognized during the team's championship days. In his later years, he served as a mentor for younger players such as former guards Gabe Vincent and Max Strus.
Jayden Armant is a contributor to Inside the Heat. He is a student at Howard University. He can be reached at or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.
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