Miami Heat: Udonis Haslem ‘battling with’ returning or not for 20th season

The Miami Heat do things a certain way. We all know the old story by now.

They are going to be among the roughest, toughest, hardest working, and most grind-it-out teams in the entire league, year in and year out. They don’t mind having to out-physical or outwork the opposition.

It’s what they are built, trained, and conditioned to do from the very onset of training camp. That shows up, no more so than in another key aspect of what they do as a franchise—hardnosed tough defense.

All of that, though, is what has made Udonis Haslem the guy he is. That, not only, goes for the player he has been on the court or the leader in the organization he has been for the Miami Heat, but the man he seems to be every single day for himself, his family, and his community.

Back to the basketball of it all though, the man has a tough decision upcoming. After the Miami Heat rolled out all the stops to lure him back for year 20 at the top of the offseason, the longtime veteran is “battling” with his decision.

The Miami Heat will reserve a roster spot for Udonis Haslem for as long as he wants it. That’s the key question when it comes to the 19-year vet though.

Here is what the Captain had to say on the topic Monday while making an appearance to discuss grants at Nova Southeastern University. It comes via Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. 

"“It’s still something that I battle with,” Haslem said, “because it’s something that we talked about and it’s something we wanted to do in a specific way. Things changed when he passed, but we’ll figure it out.”Haslem’s role largely has been one of mentor for the Heat in recent years. He appeared in 13 games last season, none during the Heat’s run within one game of the NBA Finals. He has not appeared in more than 16 games in any of the past six seasons, appearing in only one in 2020-21."

It would be tough for the Heat to enter a season without UD in the fold. Heck and as noted a ton throughout, they haven’t had to do so over the past two decades or so.

Haslem would also note at the top of this same soliloquy how he’s “always going to be a part of the Heat family”, stating he “ain’t going nowhere” and that regardless of whether he is playing still or not, he’s “always going to impact that organization.”

You just love to hear and see it, but you would love to see him finish out the second decade evenly before hanging them up for good. He’s earned patience and all the respect that comes with that though.

Again, however, you definitely hope to see him back.