Udonis Haslem's No. 40 Becomes Sixth Miami Heat Jersey Retired

The Miami Heat officially retire the No. 40 jersey of legend Udonis Haslem
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Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem joined elite company during tonight's game against the Atlanta Hawks.

His No. 40 jersey has been officially retired by the organization.

He joins a star-studded list of players to have their jersey retired. It includes Dwyane Wade, Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Hardaway, and Chris Bosh.

“You all got the money on me crying, don’t y’all? I know you all think I’m going to cry,” Haslem said. “Yeah, it’s hard. It’s hard. It’s hard. Heat Nation, it’s been an absolute honor, man.”

The three-time NBA champion retired after 20 seasons with the team. He was named the Vice President of Basketball Development in Nov. 2023.

The halftime event left Haslem emotional as he watched the banner rise to the rafters. One of the most beloved players in franchise history receives an honor that few have experienced in their lives.

“The Miami Heat organization, we will not only always celebrate his legacy, but we’ll educate people on his legacy,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “And his legacy is important to the league as well. My hope is this gets acknowledged and recognized throughout the league … so this new generation of younger players can understand what being an all-time winner can look like.”

Udonis Haslem Gives Appreciation To Miami Heat, Teammates, Fans In Heartfelt Statement

Anthony Pasciolla works as a contributing writer to Inside the Heat.

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Anthony Pasciolla
ANTHONY PASCIOLLA

Anthony Pasciolla is a sports journalist who began covering the NBA in June 2023. A Philadelphia native, Anthony has experience covering the Philadelphia 76ers as a credentialed reporter. He has written for Miami Heat, Back In The Day Hoops, Kansas State Wildcats, and Illinois Fighting Illini on Sports Illustrated. His work also includes 76ers coverage for The Sporting News and previous stories for Athlon Sports and BasketballNews. When he’s not covering the NBA, you can find him spending time with friends and family or diving into the world of fantasy football. Follow him on X @AnthonyPasci or reach him via email at ampasciolla@gmail.com