Udonis Haslem earns Miami Heat’s backbone award from the NBPA.
I’m going to say a word and I want you to think of the first Miami Heat player to come to mind.
Clutch.
Smile.
Heart.
If your answer for “heart” was anyone but Udonis Haslem, you might need to visit your primary care physician.
For the fourth straight season, the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) acknowledged its player voice awards, a collection of accolades chosen by players, for players. 2018 marked the second consecutive year that an iteration of the teammate of the year honor was bestowed, this time taking the form of the Backbone Award.
30 teams recognized 30 players as the foundation of their organization, honoring their leadership through the 82-game season. While regular heavy lifters like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Draymond Green graced the list, Haslem was Miami’s honoree.
The award comes days before Haslem will celebrate his 38th birthday on June 9. A 15-year veteran, Haslem’s contributions eclipse the box score. This season, only 72 in-game minutes felt Haslem’s on-court presence, but his influence runs deeper than a few buckets and rebounds.
A lifelong Florida resident and Miami’s longest tenured player, the award is a fitting decoration. Haslem regularly indulges his coworkers beyond the gym. As captain of the Heat, he invited teammates to a Miami Dolphins game, to kick off the season’s onset.
Haslem takes cues from his championship experience, recognizing the importance of having a cohesive team.
"“I just always refer back to our championship run and those teams we had, where we took advantage of opportunities to do things like that and spend so much time together,” Haslem told the Sun Sentinel last October. “And I really believe that building those relationships off the floor helps translate to being successful on the floor.”"
If ever the Heat needed a northern star, its now.
Miami’s underwhelming playoff exit was a learning experience, but their forward momentum is hampered by water weight in the form of steep salaries and long contracts.
With Haslem’s current contract officially coming to a close next month, Miami could be turning the page on their next chapter. Haslem and Dwyane Wade are the last playing vestiges of Miami’s championship teams and their retirement leaves room for a new batch of leaders.
For now, Haslem’s decision to return for a 16th season is suspended in the doldrums of summer. Committed to staying in shape, Haslem also plans to make plenty of time for summer fun.
"“I’ve been having fun, but I’m handling my business,” Haslem said to the Palm Beach Post. “But I’m making sure I’m having a lot of fun, making sure I have more fun than usual. But definitely handling my business, staying in shape and working out and taking care of my business as far as my stores and franchises and different things like that. So just the usual summer for me, but just trying to have a little more fun with it.”"
As Haslem’s NBA career nears its final verse, Heat fans and players alike would relish something of a goodbye tour for one of Miami’s faithful. His brand of loyalty has even become a benchmark league-wide, with teams on the hunt for players that support team culture.
Next: Miami Heat: Is LeBron James heading to Houston this summer?
Whatever Haslem’s next chapter entails, it surely won’t stray far from Miami. After all, he keeps the state of Florida on his back.