Tag: Udonis Haslem

Highlights from Al Horford’s first NBA title with the Boston Celtics

Here’s a look at what Al Horford contributed in the Boston Celtics’ 18th NBA championship.

After 17 years of grinding away against the best players in the world, forward/center Al Horford won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics on Monday night.

In doing so, he became the first Dominican-born basketball player to win a ring. Horford is also the tenth UF alumnus to have earned an NBA ring, joining college teammates [autotag]Corey Brewer[/autotag] and [autotag]Udonis Haslem[/autotag] on the list.

Despite his advanced age of 38, the Gator great was a regular contributor to his team’s cause — including an offensive outburst from behind the three-point arc to set a new NBA playoffs record.

Across 19 playoff games, he put up 9.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.8 blocks in 30.3 minutes per game played.

Udonis Haslem reveals he was almost moved for Sixers legend Allen Iverson

Udonis Haslem reveals he was almost traded for Philadelphia 76ers franchise legend Allen Iverson.

Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson is one of the best players to ever play the game. Despite standing at just 6 feet tall, Iverson took on the giants of the NBA and he ended up leading the league in scoring four times and was an MVP in 2001.

Iverson had an influence in the league and is considered one of the greatest players in Sixers franchise history. His ability to score at such a high level was unparalleled and a Miami Heat legend revealed that he was almost traded for Iverson so Miami could pair him with Dwyane Wade.

Udonis Haslem stated this about a potential Iverson-Wade duo:

I remember my name was in the hat one time. We was talking about making a move for Iverson and my name got thrown in the hat a little bit. I was all shook up and (expletive), but D-Wade was like ‘Man, that’s Allen Iverson’. I think whatever reason, that didn’t work. I don’t know if the dynamics with him and Dwyane would have worked at that time. So I don’t think dynamically, it didn’t work, but my ass was almost out of here.

The idea of an Iverson-Wade duo in Miami would have been very interesting. Obviously, they are both close as Iverson presented Wade at the Hall of Fame in 2023 and the fact that the two of them can score at such a high level, they would have been extremely tough to stop.

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Udonis Haslem assures that Sixers target Jimmy Butler not leaving Heat

Udonis Haslem assures that Philadelphia 76ers target Jimmy Butler is not leaving the Miami Heat.

There have been connections between the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler as the offseason begins to get underway. Butler is looking for a max contract extension while it is unclear the Heat will give it to him.

The Sixers, meanwhile, are willing to offer Butler the max should they be able to acquire him from Miami. The big issue is the Heat are unlikely to just accept draft picks for Butler. Miami is chasing a title of its own and would need a third team to get involved–the Cleveland Cavaliers maybe–in order to get what it neds to continue the title chase.

Heat legend Udonis Haslem was on ESPN’s “Get Up” and assured that there was no way Butler was leaving Miami:

Hell to the naw, you can’t get out of the 305. How you gonna do that? You gotta go through me; I’m standing at the county line.

Heat president Pat Riley had some words about Butler trolling the New York Knicks and the Celtics after Miami was eliminated. Butler essentially stated that if he had been healthy, he would have led the Heat to win over both teams. Those comments by Riley began sparking the rumors that they could trade the star.

Haslem put those thoughts to bed:

We speak our mind in Miami, if you guys don’t know that by now. We believe in eye-to-eye communication. We don’t believe in walking away with our heads down and mumbling under our breath. We’re gonna say what we feel. We’re gonna move on to the next situation.

Just because Haslem says that Butler isn’t leaving the Heat doesn’t mean that the Sixers won’t try. President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey tends to get the star he believes he can get. The Sixers are going to do everything they can to get that third star and Butler will certainly be on Philadelphia’s minds.

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Udonis Haslem doesn’t think LeBron James will leave the Lakers

Maybe Lakers fans who are concerned LeBron James will leave the Lakers this summer shouldn’t stress about it.

Will he stay or will he go? To paraphrase the name of one of the most famous songs by the punk rock band The Clash, that is the question some are asking these days about LeBron James.

He is expected to decline the player option on his contract for next season and become a free agent this summer, something Rich Paul, his agent, seemed to confirm days ago.

While most believe James will ultimately stay with the Los Angeles Lakers, there is always the chance he will leave. The Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly readying themselves to go after him if he has any reservations about remaining with the Lakers.

But Udonis Haslem, James’ former teammate on the Miami Heat, thinks the chances of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer leaving his current team are slim to none.

Some seem to think L.A. could entice James to stay by drafting his son Bronny and hiring former sharpshooter JJ Redick to be its next head coach. Redick is the elder James’ co-host on the “Mind the Game” podcast.

Multiple reports have indicated Redick is the favorite to land the team’s head coaching job. In fact, according to one report, there are already three men lined up to be on his staff if he lands the gig.

Udonis Haslem: Lakers players other than LeBron James wouldn’t trust JJ Redick as head coach

Udonis Haslem, a former teammate of LeBron James, had a warning about James’ Lakers teammates should JJ Redick be their next head coach.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ search for their next head coach is underway. According to multiple reports, they’re looking to examine several candidates, including JJ Redick.

Redick was one of the NBA’s great 3-point shooters during his 15-year playing career. More recently, he has become a commentator for ESPN’s NBA coverage, as well as LeBron James’ co-host for the “Mind the Game” podcast.

Many believe Redick is a candidate for the Lakers’ job only because of his relationship with James. If he were to win the job, it would likely lead to accusations that the organization is completely caving into the superstar’s whims.

Former Miami Heat big man Udonis Haslem, who was teammates with James for four seasons, says the rest of the Lakers’ locker room would have a cynical attitude toward Redick should he get hired.

“If it’s JJ (Redick), you’re going to have a cynical locker room,” said Haslem. “You’re gonna see guys that are gonna say, ‘Is coach gonna do a podcast after the game with LeBron?’ You gonna have a cynical locker room of guys that are gonna side-eye everything JJ says, ’cause they’re gonna wonder, ‘Is it JJ’s message, or LeBron’s message?’”

The Lakers must hire a head coach who not only has James’ trust and respect but will also stand up to James when needed. As great a player as he is, he needs to be coached, just as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant needed to be coached, and that means telling him what he may not want to hear but needs to hear at times.

Florida hoops legend Udonis Haslem headed back to NBA Finals

Udonis Haslem is retiring at the end of the season, but the Florida legend is looking to close things out on a high note as the Miami Heat face the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 NBA Finals.

It’s been more than two decades since Udonis Haslem donned the Orange and Blue, but they say “Once a Gator, always a Gator,” right?

Well, the former Gator is making all of Gainesville (and the state of Florida) proud by reaching the NBA Finals for a seventh time with the Miami Heat – the team he’s spent his entire 20-year career with.

Sure, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Jimmy Butler have all been the faces of the various Heat teams, but Haslem is the constant – the glue, if you will – that every late millennial and Gen Z Miami fan has come to adore. He is the longest-tenured player in franchise history after all.

So, what should Heat and Gators fans expect from Haslem in what will be his final series as a member of the NBA? Not a lot. Haslem is a player mentor of sorts now that has played just two minutes throughout the team’s 18 playoff games.

He got his retirement game back in April when he dropped 24 points, which is as a good of a swan song as any.

The book is closing on UD’s career, and boy would it be nice to see him ride off into the sunset with a fourth championship to his name. While he might not be the most talented Gator to ever make it to the pros, Haslem’s legacy will likely never be forgotten in the state of Florida.

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Shaq hilariously chanted ‘We want Haslem!’ along with Heat fans during blowout win

Shaq joined the fun for his former teammate, Udonis Haslem.

The Heat defeated the Celtics to take a commanding series lead in the Eastern Conference finals, and Miami fans had some fun in the process.

Late in the fourth quarter, it was fairly obvious that the Heat were about to officially clinch an unpredictable 3-0 series lead against the Celtics. Some fans in the building were eager to see veteran big man Udonis Haslem.

Haslem, who is 42 years old and is currently the oldest player in the league, has confirmed this is his last professional season. He was greeted with a big standing ovation when he checked into the game for his final regular season game last month.

Haslem has played in the 11th-most playoff games among all active players in the NBA. But he did not play during postseason runs for Miami in 2018, 2020, 2021 or 2022.

Haslem had not logged any playing time in a playoff game since 2016 but played just over two minutes during the postseason in 2023 thus far, briefly appearing during an opening-round win against Milwaukee.

Miami fans, however, want to see the center get some late-game action once more on Sunday. Loud chants for “We want Haslem!” were heard on the TV broadcast and captured on video by fans at the arena as well.

Perhaps best of all, though, is that even Shaquille O’Neal joined the fun.

O’Neal was attending the game for the pregame show, halftime show, and postgame show on behalf of Inside the NBA on TNT. Earlier in the game, O’Neal was honored by the PA announcer and was welcomed by the crowd.

It was amazing to see O’Neal get hyped in the crowd for Haslem.

O’Neal and Haslem are former teammates and they started alongside each other in the frontcourt when Miami won the NBA championship against the Mavericks in 2006.

Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra did not end up putting Haslem in the game. But we can hope to see him on the court once again before he retires.

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Gator great Udonis Haslem scores 24 points in final NBA regular-season game

Tip of the cap to Udonis Haslem for going out in style.

All good things must come to an end the adage says and for former Florida center Udonis Haslem, his 20-year run in the National Basketball Association finally came to a close on Sunday against the Orlando Magic. He put up 24 points in 25 minutes for the Miami Heat in the final game of the regular season.

While the 6-foot-8-inch frontcourt bruiser never earned any significant personal accolades, he was a part of three championship-winning teams during his two-decade tenure with the only NBA team that he ever played for. Haslem’s court time diminished precipitously in the final seven years of his career but he still found ways to contribute both on and off the court.

“I’m going to miss his spirit,” head coach Erik Spoelstra said according to ESPN. “I’m going to miss his voice. I’m going to miss his intentions. He has incredible, pure, team intentions. Every single day. He doesn’t have a bad day. He may express himself with anger other times at his teammates or even with me, but his intentions are pure.

“He doesn’t have bad days, there’s not a moodiness, he doesn’t come in with any kind of baggage. It’s pure. It’s always about winning. How can he help somebody else? How can he help the team? How can he help mentor? That’s what keeps his mind going constantly.”

Haslem went undrafted in the 2002 NBA draft and opted to play in France with Chalon-Sur-Saône of the French LNB Pro A to kick off his professional career. He arrived across the pond weighing nearly 300 pounds but managed to shed 50 of those pounds over the course of eight months, opening the door for a return to the States.

The Heat signed him as a free agent ahead of the 2003 season and Haslem participated in numerous rookie events, ultimately earning NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors. And the rest, as they say, is history.

The Gators alumnus played in 879 career NBA games — starting 501 of them — averaging 7.5 points on 48.9% shooting from the floor and 6.6 rebounds per game for the Heat.

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Udonis Haslem was hilariously gifted a rocking chair by the Miami Heat ahead of his last regular-season game

The Miami Heat had the most hilarious gift for Udonis Haslem ahead of his regular-season finale.

Ahead of his final regular-season game with the Miami Heat on Sunday, longtime NBA player Udonis Haslem got quite the parting gift from the franchise.

During a ceremony held pregame for Haslem, Heat center Bam Adebayo gave the retiring veteran a hilarious gift to commemorate all the jokes they’ve shared between each other.

Adebayo’s parting prank for Haslem was giving him a Heat-themed rocking chair, which got a delightful response from the Miami legend.

Haslem joked that his old friend Dwayne Wade should join him on the court during the presentation, with Wade looking on from the sideline to celebrate his longtime teammate.

The rocking chair did have three NBA Finals trophies on the side to commemorate the three titles that Haslem won with the franchise.

Haslem will conclude his role as the NBA’s eldest statesman once the Heat’s season ends. He’s the oldest active player in the league at 42 and has been with Miami since 2003.

His retirement will signal another broken tie with a different era of the NBA, but the Heat seem very determined to send him out in style.

Haslem celebrated his regular-season finale by putting on a show in the first quarter.

He scored 13 points in one frame against the Orlando Magic, the most he’s scored in any game since the 2015 season, and banked only the seventh 3-pointer of his career.

Wade sat right by the court and sported a Haslem jersey to support his pal.

It turned out to be a special Sunday for Haslem, who will now prep for his final playoff appearance with Miami.

Colin Castleton climbing Florida’s all-time shot blocker list

Take a look at where Colin Castleton ranks among the all-time shot blockers at Florida.

Florida basketball has a formidable force down low on defense in the form of center [autotag]Colin Castleton[/autotag], a fifth-year senior who transferred to the Gators from the Michigan Wolverines ahead of the 2020-21 campaign.

While the 6-foot-11-inch, 250-pound big guy has made his presence felt in the paint during his three years in Gainesville, he has stepped things up in his final campaign. Notching 54 and 62 blocks in his first two years wearing the Orange and Blue, respectively, he already has 38 blocks in just 15 games played (vs. 24 and 28 games, respectively).

Castleton came into the season right at No. 10 on the list with 116 blocks but has quickly worked his way up. While there is a good chance he could finish third or fourth all-time if he remains healthy and consistent it is practically impossible for him to catch up to No. 1.

Take a look below at Florida’s top 10 shot blockers over the course of history and where Castleton currently ranks among them as the 2022-23 season rolls along.