On August 12, Beijing time, NBA celebrity Shams reported that Haslem will renew the Contract with the Heat with a basic salary of 2.6 million US dollars for 1 year and continue to compete in the NBA next season. Haslem, 40, will be the 19th season of his NBA career next season, and he is also the fifth player in history to play for the same team for more than 19 years, the other four being Stockton, Duncan, the late Star Kobe Bryant and Nowitzki. It goes without saying how many great achievements these great masters have built, as for Haslem, the man who averaged only 7.6 points per game and a career high of only 28 points is the most unexpected one on this list.
Haslem played just one time last season, had four points and one rebound, and was sent off for two technical fouls in just three minutes, and for the Heat, his presence was much more spiritual than it actually was. As he himself put it: Miami is my home, I love to be here, and the NBA needs these older and more experienced NBA veterans. Since he was willing to persevere, and the Heat wanted him to stay, why not enjoy it.
In 2003, Haslem joined the Heat with Wade, and together they experienced the trough of the team's rebuilding period, experienced the climax of the 2006 reversal of the championship, and tasted the sweet time of the Big Three's consecutive championships. To know that the heat's team history is only 33 years, and the Harbin team's play time is more than half of the team's history time, now Wade has long retired, the Heat is also floating under the wave of history, but Haslem is still the most stable on the team, there is no doubt about the soul of the Heat.
Earlier, when Wade was asked about his favorite teammates, his answer was not that of All-Stars such as LeBron, Bosh, O'Neal, etc., but the most forgotten name - Udulys Haslem. The explanation Wade gave was: No matter when I'm on the Heat and when I'm on the court, Haslem is always behind my back and helps me. In 2010, during the Big Three, the 28-year-old Harbin team cut his salary and stayed in the team to help the Heat achieve great things, and today, 11 years later, the Heat still give back to the veteran.
Maybe his stats are not outstanding, and the peak of his career is not dazzling, but he has been silently guarding this team in his own way, doing his best to play his obscure role. It's actually great enough, legendary enough. Maybe one day we'll be able to see haslem fluttering push-and-roll jerseys over the American Airlines arena and watch the old fans tell their children stories about the little man.