As the Miami Heat seek to continue to build out their roster for the coming season, there will remain one constant that has been that way for the last 20 years or so.
A topic of much debate throughout the season and when this time of year comes around every year, at least across the last few, is why Udonis Haslem still has a spot on the Miami Heat’s roster.
Well, as described many times before, sometimes, you need a guy that’s been in the trenches with title-winning teams, that is still in the trenches with the teams he’s trying to reach, while also being brash and solidified enough to be able to say the things that need saying.
Look back no further than the sideline skirmish heard around the world. As the Miami Heat crumbled on the sidelines during a late-season game, it was Udonis Haslem, Jimmy Butler, and Coach Spoelstra that all found themselves in the crosshairs of controversy, criticism, and scrutiny.
The Miami Heat are all about hard work, discipline, and doing things the right way. Those are also huge reasons why Udonis Haslem always finds his way back.
However, it was also the three of those dudes that played a major part in fixing it all and en route to making it to within one game of the NBA Finals. Again, you need a guy who isn’t afraid to say it.
And, by all means, Haslem isn’t. The latest example of such a phenomenon comes from the Miami Heat’s official social media.
UD is always gonna be UD, even at Jr. HEAT camp…wait for it 🤣 pic.twitter.com/f1u17PjNJG
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) July 27, 2022
In response to a Jr. Miami Heat Summer Camper who said that his dad had played against UD in high school, Haslem responded, with a smile, “yeah? I dunked on your dad probably”. What a response.
What a guy. And to be clear, this is a response that few can give in this situation and it be taken with a sense of endearment.
Haslem is one of those guys. Though this is a more lighthearted iteration, it’s exactly what has made him so key and influential to the Miami Heat organization and many different roster assemblies over the years.
It’s the reason they did this.
To show his continued importance and value to the franchise, the Miami Heat sent a delegation of employees to make a free agency pitch to Udonis Haslem promptly at 6pm tonight with hopes of luring him back for Year 20.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) June 30, 2022
Though nothing has been made official yet, you assume you’ll see him patrolling the sidelines again in the upcoming season. And you just love to see it.
Never change UD. Never change.