Miami Heat legend to have his jersey retired
Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The Miami Heat are planning to immortalize the No. 40 jersey worn by Udonis Haslem next month.
Haslem’s jersey will be raised into the rafters at Kaseya Center in Miami, Fla. during halftime of the Heat’s Jan. 19 contest against the Atlanta Hawks.
Miami's very own is going up in the rafters ⚓️
Celebrate with us a night 20 years in the making as we retire @ThisIsUD's jersey – https://t.co/Y0Kv9dei96 pic.twitter.com/9uZL7xPqKe
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 22, 2023
Haslem spent his entire 20-year career with the Heat before retiring at the end of the 2022-23 campaign. He was a member of all three championship teams in franchise history — the 2006 title and back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013. Haslem is also the Heat’s all-time leading rebounder with 5,791.
Haslem perfectly embodied the “Heat Culture” mantra that Heat president Pat Riley has consistently tried to instill among Miami’s players over the years.
“It’s about a great legacy,” Riley said of retiring Haslem’s jersey. “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.”
40 goin ⬆️ we can't wait either! pic.twitter.com/Hucb5g9uxL
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 22, 2023
Haslem’s jersey will be the sixth one retired by the Heat. He will join Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade in receiving the honor.
It’s not often you see a player with career averages of 7.5 points and 6.6 rebounds get his jersey retired. But given what Haslem meant to the Heat organization and fans, it’s not hard to see why.