MIAMI — For more than two decades, first as a star at Miami High, and later upon his return from the University of Florida when he joined the Miami Heat, Udonis Haslem has proudly stood up for his city.
He did so again this week with a powerful article he wrote in the Players Tribune where he tried to raise awareness for the most vulnerable of victims of the current coronavirus outbreak.
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“I don’t know how I can get everyone to listen, but I say this from the bottom of my heart: The people growing up in the real Miami? They’re as vulnerable during this crisis as anybody,” Haslem wrote.
His words prompted swift action as the City of Miami committed $1 million toward food security for kids and families in need during the crisis. Commissioner Ken Russell cited Haslem as the inspiration for the decision on a tweet posted within hours of the article’s release.
I spoke with @ThisIsUD UD Haslem tonight and we are going to collaborate on this $1million effort to make sure @CityofMiami kids are fed throughout the layoffs caused by #corona. Thank you @WPLGLocal10 for covering this @ClayWPLG https://t.co/2B0v61InFO
— Ken Russell Miami (@kenrussellmiami) March 27, 2020
“I didn’t know it was going to go that far,” Haslem said Friday during a conference call with local reporters. “I didn’t think it was going to happen that fast. But I was hoping to make an impact with my words.
“I’m thankful I have this platform.”
If the NBA season ends up being canceled, there’s a chance we may not see Haslem again in a Heat uniform.
Don’t expect him to ever run for political office, he assured reporters.
But if this is the end, Haslem’s words this week provided another memorable — and impactful — moment for the Heat’s longtime on-court enforcer who became one of Miami’s most beloved sports figures.
‘F*** your spring break, keep your ass at home’
Haslem’s toughness on the court pales to how important his message was to the world about not letting irresponsible spring breakers harm the city he loves and raising much-needed assistance for his hometown.
“While I might not be a doctor or a congressman or anything like that, I do know one thing — just as someone who grew up where I grew up: If our schools have to close down for a long time because this corona thing gets out of control, millions of kids are going home to empty refrigerators,” Haslem wrote in the Players Tribune.
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Haslem reminded everyone of the plight he once experienced growing up in poverty and how much the underprivileged youth need help and protection. especially during this difficult time.
Just as he stood up for Miami this week, Haslem has done the same for his Heat teammates and made his presence felt throughout his 17 years in the NBA.
Here’s a look at some of his most memorable moments:
10. Two dunks in less than two minutes: Haslem took a pay cut to stay in Miami and help the Heat make their financial situation work in order to bring LeBron James and Chris Bosh to Miami.
While the Big 3 lit up the scoreboard most nights, Haslem still proved himself invaluable doing the dirty work on both ends of the floor in the fiercest battles.
But every so often, Haslem made the highlight reels as he did in his eighth season on May 18, 2011, in the third quarter of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals in Chicago.
Haslem posterized Bulls forward Keith Bogans on a one-handed dunk, drawing a foul in a low-scoring close battle in the third quarter. Haslem crushed Bogans on a cut to the basket after a perfect feed from the 3-point line from Mike Bibby. Less than two minutes later, Bibby hit Haslem with an outlet pass that allowed him to finish a fast break by dunking over league MVP Derrick Rose. Haslem finished with 13 points off the bench, but both plays helped the Heat pull away for an 85-75 win following a Game 1 loss as Miami took the series 4-1 and advanced to the NBA Finals.
9. Bleeding for his team: Haslem had several unforgettable moments in the Heat’s often-contentious rivalry with the Pacers during the Big 3 era — some of which we will go over later.
Let’s start with the night his blood and sweat kept the Heat from falling into a possibly insurmountable 3-1 hole against Indiana during the Big 3’s first championship season.
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Haslem, who had been removed from the starting lineup the previous game, hit four of the Heat’s final five shots in a 101-93 win at Indiana that tied the series at 2.
And this came after he took an elbow from Pacers backup forward Lou Amundson with 9:37 left in the game, which busted him open above his left eye. Haslem refused to get stitches to avoid having to come out of the game.
He remained and provided the heroics in a game that turned the tide in a series the Heat won 4-2. Haslem played the remainder of that series with stitches over his left eye.
8. Mr. Clutch: While Haslem has never been a prolific scorer, averaging only 7.6 points per game, he has hit a number of clutch shots, including four game-winners in his career. One of the more memorable came on March 11, 2007, to beat the Washington Wizards 106-104. Haslem took an inbounds pass from Jason Williams at the baseline, dribbled twice, turned and pulled up on Antawn Jamison, hitting the winning jumper with 0.3 seconds left. Haslem’s other game-winners came on March 22, 2009, at Detroit; April 12, 2010, at Philadelphia; and Nov. 22, 2009, at home against Charlotte.
7. The Enforcer: Don’t mess with Haslem’s teammates. Many still remember the way Haslem stepped up to defend Mario Chalmers by getting in the Pacers’ David West’s face at a tipping point of Game 5 of the 2013 Eastern Conference finals. LeBron James had just blocked George Hill on a drive to the basket and as players slowly walked back, West confronted and exchanged words with Chalmers. Haslem intercepted West and the two went nose-to-nose exchanging words before teammates separated them. Technical fouls were issued to Chalmers, West and Haslem, but no one was ejected.
6. A bond is formed: The Heat drafting Dwyane Wade fifth overall out of Marquette changed the direction of their franchise in 2003. But he and Haslem, an undrafted forward out of UF, would form a lasting friendship and a potent connection on the court that season as each would be selected to the NBA’s All-Rookie team. Haslem had 11 double-doubles that season as the Heat experienced a 17-win improvement from the prior season and made it to the second round of the playoffs before losing in six games to the Pacers. It was the first time the Heat had two representatives on the All-Rookie team. Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers were chosen in 2008-09, and this season Kendrick Nunn and Tyler Herro have a strong chance of also earning the accolade together.
5. “I’m gonna f— you up”: Lance Stephenson had quite the history with the Heat during the Big 3 era. From the infamous “ear blow” at LeBron James to multiple confrontations with players after fouls to his famous taunt to Wade that drew a smile from the Heat legend after Stephenson had turned his back. But Haslem wasn’t having any of it during the 2014 Eastern Conference finals when he sent a pretty clear message to Stephenson from the Heat bench that anyone watching that could read lips picked up.
4. Payback for D-Wade: To cap our Haslem-Pacers moments, probably the one people most talk about to this day. When Tyler Hansbrough clobbered Dwyane Wade on a drive to the paint early in Game 5 of the 2012 East semis, Haslem wasted no time knocking Hansbrough to the court with both hands when he decided to drive to the bucket on the ensuing possession.
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The whole series was riddled with heated confrontations that followed Pacers coach Frank Vogel’s comments calling the Heat the most flopping team in the league and continued with Stephenson’s choke sign at James after a missed free throw and the ensuing pregame altercation between him and then-Heat assistant coach Juwan Howard.
3. Making Heat history: Haslem etched his name in the Heat record books on Nov. 21, 2012, when he surpassed Alonzo Mourning’s franchise rebounding record by collecting his 4,808th board in a home win against Milwaukee. Haslem’s career rebounding total stands at 5,746, which ranks 191st all-time in NBA history.
2. Forever linked: Sixteen years after they broke through together, it was only fitting that Haslem play a major role in Wade’s farewell game.
The Heat had given Wade a heartfelt sendoff at AmericanAirlines Arena the previous night in a victory against the Sixers. But there was still one more game to play.
On April 10, 2019, before a partisan Heat crowd at the Barclays Center, Wade poured in a triple-double (25 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) in his final game.
With the Heat eliminated from postseason contention, and knowing the significance of the evening, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra put the seldom-used Haslem in his starting lineup for the first time all season. Playing in only his 10th game, Haslem finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
But it was his jumper from the top of the key with 45 seconds left in the third quarter off Wade’s 10th assist that secured him of his final triple-double. Haslem scored six of his points off Wade assists and assisted on one of Wade’s scores.
1. Nothing like your first: One of Haslem’s best career playoff performances came on June 20, 2006 — the night the Heat won their first NBA title. While Wade poured in a memorable 37 points, Haslem delivered a vintage valuable performance. On a night in which Shaquille O’Neal was held to only nine points, Haslem scored 17 points and picked up 10 rebounds in Game 6 to help the Heat outlast the Mavericks on the road.
(Photo of Udonis Haslem confronting David West in 2013: Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
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