Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem We’ll be back for his 20th NBA season. The 42-year-old made the announcement at his basketball camp in Miami on Sunday.
“I decided to finish what I talked to my dad about. I’m going to finish what I started and play for 20 years,” Haslem said as he sat midcourt at his alma mater Miami High. “I’m going to play this year because I talked to my dad and he said he’s going to do it. It won’t be the same. It won’t be easy. But the goal is the same. Win, win, win, win, champion. Ship. Leave it on the line and hold your head high when it’s all over.
Haslem’s contract is for one year and is worth $2.9 million. Miami extended their offer about two months ago, waiting for Haslem to decide whether to retire or return.
Haslem, a beloved member of the Heat organization, admitted that after the season ended, he wasn’t sure if he would be back for another year.
Heat coach Eric Spoelstra has repeatedly pointed out over the years how much Haslem’s presence and leadership impact the team on a day-to-day basis.
Haslem is the only NBA player to have played more than 20 seasons with one franchise, following Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks, according to an ESPN Stats & Information study.
Haslem is a three-time NBA champion with Miami and the all-time leader in rebounding in franchise history. The deal is his 11th contract he signed with the Heat, and his seventh straight summer he signed with the team.
His father, Johnny Haslem, passed away on August 30, 2021. Udonis Haslem spent about two weeks sadly away from the Heat at the start of camp and last year’s preseason. Re-evaluate many things from last year.
“Even at 42, I look around and sometimes feel confused that I don’t have my parents,” Haslem said. “It can be confusing. …But it’s never been clearer. We needed to clear the web.”
Haslem was the oldest player to appear in each of the last two NBA seasons. Last season, he appeared in his 13 games with Miami, averaging 2.5 points and 1.9 rebounds. He has averaged 7.5 points and 6.6 rebounds in his first 19 seasons, and has played sparingly the last six years.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
