Tag: Udonis Haslem

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.

Florida basketball player named to preseason All-SEC first team

Colin Castleton, Florida basketball’s star player, has been named to the preseason All-SEC first team, the only Gator to make the list.

Florida basketball’s [autotag]Colin Castleton[/autotag] has been named to the preseason All-SEC first team on Wednesday. He is the only Florida player to be named to either preseason All-SEC team.

Castleton joins Alabama‘s Jaden Shackelford and Jahvon Quinerly, Arkansas‘ JD Notae, Auburn‘s Allen Flanigan, Kentucky’s Sahvir Wheeler, LSU‘s Darius Days, Mississippi State’s Iverson Molinar, Tennessee’s John Fulkerson, and Vanderbilt’s Scotty Pippen Jr. on the preseason All-SEC first team.

The fifth-year senior is expected to be a central part of the Gators’ team this season. The Deland, Florida, native was recruited by Florida out of high school, but he ultimately chose to go to Michigan, where he was rarely used in his first two seasons. He transferred to Florida ahead of his junior season and was instantly integral to the Gators’ game plan.

Last season, Castleton earned coached second-team All-SEC honors after leading the Orange and Blue with 16 points and 9 rebounds per game. He also became the fourth Gator in history with multiple 15-point and 15-rebound performances since 1996 after surpassing those thresholds against Texas A&M and Florida State. The other three plays to reach that mark since 1996 are [autotag]Marreese Speights[/autotag], [autotag]Al Horford[/autotag], and [autotag]Udonis Haslem[/autotag]. His 116 blocked shots as a Gator for the 10th most in program history.

Florida basketball will look to start their season on Nov. 7 against Stony Brook. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.

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Lisfranc injury: How 5 players returned after the foot diagnosis

Rookie Wire went back and looked at how some basketball players recovered from a Lisfranc injury.

Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren has been ruled out for the entire 2022-23 season due to a Lisfranc injury in his right foot, the team announced.

Holmgren suffered the injury playing in the annual CrawsOver Pro-Am in Seattle, Washington. He was seen attempting to defend a layup attempt by LeBron James, but came up limping after the play and eventually left the game.

Thunder executive vice president Sam Presti expressed his disappointment for Holmgren but is confident he will come back better than ever. The team expects him to make a full recovery from the injury, which will require surgery.

Lisfranc injuries occur if bones in the middle of the foot are broken or if ligaments in the area are torn. The ligament helps keep the midfoot in place and stabilizes the arch of the foot. It is relatively uncommon in basketball with it popping up more frequently in football.

The recovery time for the injury can vary depending on various factors, but players often return by the next season. It was once viewed as a career-ending injury, especially in football, but advances in medical treatment have allowed players to successfully return.

With that in mind, Rookie Wire went back over the years and took a look at how much time some basketball players needed to recover from the injury and how they played afterward.

Udonis Haslem estaba furioso con Draymond Green por elegir a los Celtics para llegar a las Finales de la NBA, a los fans les pareció gracioso

Lo crean o no, Udonis Haslem sigue en la NBA. SI, de verdad. Ahí sigue. Refundido en la banca del Miami Heat. Si, es el al que han visto en las bandas. Pero no, no es un coach ni algún tipo de asistente… hablando técnicamente. Sigue siendo un …

Lo crean o no, Udonis Haslem sigue en la NBA. SI, de verdad. Ahí sigue. Refundido en la banca del Miami Heat.

Si, es el al que han visto en las bandas. Pero no, no es un coach ni algún tipo de asistente… hablando técnicamente. Sigue siendo un jugador. Sigue recibiendo un salario como jugador e incluso en ocasiones aparece con el Heat  — 13 veces en lo que va de este año, ¡su máximo desde 2017!

Ahí ha estado durante toda esta espantosa serie viendo cada minuto al igual que nosotros. Y honestamente, no estamos seguros que muchas personas lo sepan.

¿De qué otra manera se explican que todos se sacaron de onda cuando Haslem comentó acerca de Draymond Green eligiendo a los Boston Celtics para ganarle al Heat y llegar a las Finales de la NBA?

Y estuvo candente. No es un juego de palabras, pero si viene al caso.

De cualquier manera, después de que los Warriors llegaron a las Finales y Draymond Green fue entrevistado por TNT, Shaq le preguntó a quién creía que se enfrentarían. Y por supuesto, Green inicialmente dijo que podía ver a los dos equipos y no sabía a quién elegir inicialmente.

Pero Shaq lo presionó insistentemente. Y Draymond dijo que creía que jugarían contra los Celtics.

Traducción.- “Vamos a jugar contra Boston.” Draymond Green cree que los Warriors se enfrentarán a los Celtics en las Finales 2022 de la NBA

Y es razonablemente que Green así lo crea. El Heat había estado terrible antes del juego. Pero que lo dijera fue otra cosa. Es algo que no se hace en el entorno de la NBA, y el Heat tenía razón para molestarse.

Pero nadie esperaba que Udonis Haslem fuera el portavoz de esto.  Y se le dejó ir a Green. Le dijo a Chris Haynes : de Yahoo! Sports.

“Draymond rompió el código. No debes decir algo [expletivo] como eso. Es una falta de respeto.” 

Después de que el Heat ganara el juego 6, apareció en la cabina de transmisión de ESPN para agradecerle a Draymond. Obvio de forma sarcástica.

Traducción.- “Dénle las gracias a Draymond” EL Heat se tomó las palabras de Dray de forma personal.

Quería asegurarse de agradecer a Green por la motivación extra a su equipo.  Lo cual tiene toda la lógica. A final de cuentas, Green ya los había eliminado.

Pero a los fans de la NBA les pareció graciosísimo porque, bueno, Haslem realmente no juega. Y es el que parecía más molesto por esto. Por lo menos abiertamente.

Los chistes no se hicieron esperar. Especialmente por eso de “rompió el código” Otra vez.

Traducción.- Tenemos que dejar de pretender que Udonis Haslem importa.

Traducción.- TAAAAAAANTOS códigos rotos esta postempoorada #codeSZN

Traducción.- ¿Violó el código al alegir al ganador de una serie en un programa de análisis de la NBA? ¿Qué tipo de código extraño de la NBA es este?

Udonis Haslem was furious Draymond Green picked the Celtics to make the NBA Finals but fans thought it was hilarious

Yes, Haslem is still in the NBA

Believe it or not, folks, Udonis Haslem is still in the NBA. Yes, seriously. He’s there. Tucked away in the Miami Heat bench.

Yes, that’s him you’ve seen on the sideline. But, no, he is not a coach or any sort of assistant…technically speaking. He’s still a player. He earns a players salary and even checks in games sometimes for the Heat — 13 times so far this year, which is the most for him since 2017!

He’s been there the entire time through this awful series watching every single minute of it along with us. And, honestly, I’m unsure if a lot of people knew that.

How else would you explain everyone being caught off guard by Haslem having something to say about Draymond Green picking the Boston Celtics to make the NBA Finals over the Heat?

He was heated, y’all. Pun definitely not intended but, also, it’s a pretty good pun.

Anyway, after the Warriors advanced to the Finals and Draymond Green made his way to the NBA on TNT set, Shaq asked Green who he thought they’d be playing. And, of course, Green initially said they could see both teams and he didn’t know how it’d go initially.

But Shaq pushed him on it over and over and over again. And Draymond told the crew who he thought they’d play, and that was the Celtics.

It’s reasonable for Green to feel that way. The Heat had been pretty awful leading into the game. But it was another thing for him to vocalize it. That’s a pretty big no-no in NBA circles, and the Heat had the right to be upset about it.

But absolutely no one expected Udonis Haslem to be the vocal leader on that train. He was letting Green have it. He spoke to Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes about it.

“Draymond broke the code. You ain’t supposed to say some [expletive] like that. That’s disrespectful.” 

Then, after the Heat actually won game 6, he also popped up by the ESPN broadcast booth to tell Draymond thanks. In a sarcastic way, of course.

He wanted to make sure to thank Green for the extra motivation for his team. Which makes total sense! After all, Green did count the Heat out here.

But NBA fans thought this was hilarious because, well, Haslem doesn’t really play. Yet he’s the guy who seemed to care most about this. At least openly, anyway.

The jokes were flying. Especially because of the whole “broke the code” thing. Again.

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Video de trifulca en banca de los Heat muestra lo que pudo haber detonado todo

¿Está todo bien en Miami? En la cancha, seguro sí: a partir de la mañana de este jueves, este equipo ya tiene asegurado su lugar en la división y es el sembrado No. 1 en el Este. Pero durante la derrota contra los Golden State Warriors, los ánimos …

¿Está todo bien en Miami?

En la cancha, seguro sí: a partir de la mañana de este jueves, este equipo ya tiene asegurado su lugar en la división y es el sembrado No. 1 en el Este.

Pero durante la derrota contra los Golden State Warriors, los ánimos se caldearon durante un tiempo fuera de la segunda mitad. Una mini trifulca, si así quieren llamarle, entre Jimmy Butler, Udonis Haslem y el entrenador Erik Spoelstra. ¡No fue la mejor imagen! Pero tal vez fue mejor que pasara ahora y no en la postemporada.

Una toma por atrás de la banca mostró lo que pudo haberse dicho y lo que hizo que escalara el problema. AVERTENCIA: Hay lenguaje no apto para el trabajo:

Traducción: Erik Spoolstra: “¿Qué? ¿Crees que me voy a pelear contigo?”
Udonis Haslem a Jimmy: “Te voy a partir la mad..e.”

 

Wow. Spoelstra habló sobre el tema al final del partido:

Traducción: “Tenemos un grupo muy competitivo y extremo y nos estaban partiendo el trasero…”
El entrenador Spo habla sobre el encontronazo del Heat en el 3er cuarto.

 

Traducción: El momento en el que PJ Tucker oyó a Jimmy Butler diciendo alguna locura… Knicks en Miami mañana en la noche. 

 

Artículo traducido por Ana Lucía Toledo

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