Udonis Haslem facts for kids
Haslem in 2024
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| Miami Heat | |
|---|---|
| Vice President of Basketball Development | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | June 9, 1980 Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Florida (1998–2002) |
| NBA Draft | 2002 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 2002–2023 |
| League | NBA |
| Career history | |
| 2002–2003 | Chalon-sur-Saône |
| 2003–2023 | Miami Heat |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 6,586 (7.5 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 5,791 (6.6 rpg) |
| Assists | 733 (0.8 apg) |
Udonis Johneal Haslem (born June 9, 1980) is an American former professional basketball player. He now works as the Vice President of Basketball Development for the Miami Heat. Haslem played his entire 20-year career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Miami Heat. He is one of only three players in NBA history to play for the same team for at least 20 years.
Haslem played college basketball for the Florida Gators. He was a key player on four teams that made it to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. After college, Haslem started his professional career in France. He then joined his hometown team, the Miami Heat, in 2003. He became the player who stayed with the Heat the longest. Haslem helped the Heat win three NBA championships in 2006, 2012, and 2013.
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Early Life and High School Basketball
Haslem was born in Miami, Florida. His father, John, played college basketball. Udonis went to Wolfson High School and then Miami Senior High School. He helped Miami High win state basketball titles in 1997 and 1998. Another future NBA player, Steve Blake, was on his team.
However, there were some issues about where certain players lived. This was against the rules of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA). Because of these problems, Miami High's 1998 state title was later taken away.
College Basketball Career
Haslem received a scholarship to the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. He played for the Gators from 1998 to 2002. He studied leisure service management. Haslem was the starting center for the Gators for four years. He helped make the Florida Gators basketball program famous across the country.
In his second year, his team reached the NCAA men's Division I basketball championship game. They lost to the Michigan State Spartans. The Gators made it to the NCAA tournament four years in a row while Haslem was there. This was the first time that had happened for the program. During his college career, Haslem scored an average of 13.7 points and grabbed 6.7 rebounds per game. He was named to the All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) team four times. He is also third in team history for points scored and tenth for rebounds. In 2012, he was added to the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.
Professional Basketball Career
Playing in France (2002–2003)
Haslem was not chosen by any team in the 2002 NBA draft. This was mainly because he was considered a bit too short for a forward. He joined the Atlanta Hawks for a summer league but was later released.
Haslem then signed with Chalon-Sur-Saône, a team in France. When he arrived in France, he weighed almost 300 pounds. While playing there, Haslem worked hard and lost 50 pounds in eight months. He averaged 16.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game in his one season with the team.
Joining the Miami Heat (2003–2008)
On August 6, 2003, Haslem signed with his hometown team, the Miami Heat. In his first year, he played in the Rookie Challenge during the NBA All-Star weekend. He also earned a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. He helped the Heat reach the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
In the 2004–05 season, Haslem started in 80 games. He averaged 10.9 points and a career-high 9.1 rebounds per game. His shooting percentage was very good, ranking fifth in Heat history at the time. He played in the Rookie Challenge again, this time for the sophomore team.
Haslem signed a new contract with the Heat in August 2005. In June 2006, he helped the Heat win their first NBA Championship. They beat the Dallas Mavericks in six games in the NBA Finals. Haslem scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the final game that won them the title.
On November 10, 2006, Haslem scored a career-high 28 points against the New Jersey Nets. Starting in the 2007–08 season, Haslem became the team captain for the Miami Heat. He had a career-high average of 12.0 points per game that season.
Winning More Championships (2009–2013)
In July 2010, Haslem signed a five-year contract to stay with the Heat. He took less money than he could have earned from other teams to help the Heat build a strong team. This new Heat team included superstars LeBron James and Chris Bosh joining Dwyane Wade. In November 2010, Haslem hurt his foot and missed the rest of the regular season. He returned for the playoffs in May 2011. The Heat lost in the 2011 NBA Finals that year.
Haslem helped the Heat get back to the NBA Finals in 2012. The team defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games. Haslem won his second championship.
In November 2012, Haslem became the Heat's all-time leader in total rebounds. He passed Alonzo Mourning's record. Haslem was also the first player who was not drafted to lead an NBA team in rebounding. In June 2013, Haslem won his third championship. The Heat beat the San Antonio Spurs in seven games in the NBA Finals. After the Finals, Haslem shared that he had played much of that season with a torn knee injury.
Later Career and Retirement (2013–2023)
In the 2013–14 season, Haslem played less often. His time on the court continued to decrease. He played in only 46 regular season games that year. The Heat returned to the NBA Finals in 2014 but lost to the Spurs. After this season, Haslem chose to end his contract early.
Haslem signed a new two-year deal with the Heat in July 2014. At this point, he took on a "player-coach" role. This meant he played less but helped mentor and coach the younger players. He continued to sign one-year deals with the Heat in 2016, 2017, and 2018. In January 2019, Haslem hinted that the 2018–19 season might be his last. However, he later said he had not made a final decision.
On August 6, 2019, Haslem signed another one-year contract with the Heat. During the 2019–20 season, he played in four games. He became the 30th player in NBA history to play after turning 40 years old. He was also the first undrafted player in the modern era to play at that age. After Vince Carter retired, Haslem became the oldest active player in the NBA. The Heat reached the 2020 NBA Finals but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Haslem was on the team but did not play in the playoffs.
Haslem re-signed with the Heat again in November 2020 and August 2021. He played in only one game in the 2020–21 season. In that game, he scored four points before being ejected for a small fight. This made him the oldest player in 20 years to be ejected from a game.
On August 23, 2022, Haslem announced he would retire after the 2022–23 season. He signed one more year with the Heat. In his final regular season game on April 9, 2023, Haslem scored 24 points. This was his highest score since 2009. He also made a career-high three three-point shots.
At 42 years old, Haslem became the oldest person to play in the NBA Finals. He broke the record set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. After the Heat lost the NBA Finals to the Denver Nuggets, Haslem officially retired on July 28, 2023. The Heat honored Haslem by retiring his No. 40 jersey on January 19, 2024. This means no other Heat player will wear that number.
After Playing Basketball
On November 8, 2023, the Heat hired Haslem for a new role. He became the Vice President of Basketball Development. In 2024, Haslem also started working as a television analyst. He appears on NBA TV and ESPN to talk about basketball.
Other Appearances
Haslem has appeared in several music videos. These include "GDFR" by Flo Rida, "Bet That" by Trick Daddy, and "Born-N-Raised" by DJ Khaled, Pitbull, Trick Daddy, and Rick Ross.
Personal Life
Haslem is married to Faith Rein-Haslem, who is a sports broadcaster. They dated for 14 years before getting married. They met in 1999 while they were both students at the University of Florida. Faith was a member of the Florida Gators track and field team. They have three sons. Haslem also has two brothers and three sisters.
After retiring, Haslem has done a lot of charity work through his organization, the Udonis Haslem Children’s Foundation (UD Kids). He has also worked with Wells Fargo to help fix homes in his community.
Career Statistics
NBA
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | Miami | 75 | 24 | 23.9 | .459 | .000 | .765 | 6.3 | .7 | .4 | .3 | 7.3 |
| 2004–05 | Miami | 80 | 80 | 33.4 | .540 | .000 | .791 | 9.1 | 1.4 | .8 | .5 | 10.9 |
| 2005–06† | Miami | 81 | 80 | 30.8 | .508 | .000 | .789 | 7.8 | 1.2 | .6 | .2 | 9.3 |
| 2006–07 | Miami | 79 | 79 | 31.4 | .492 | .000 | .680 | 8.3 | 1.2 | .6 | .3 | 10.7 |
| 2007–08 | Miami | 49 | 48 | 36.8 | .467 | — | .810 | 9.0 | 1.4 | .8 | .4 | 12.0 |
| 2008–09 | Miami | 75 | 75 | 34.1 | .518 | — | .753 | 8.2 | 1.1 | .6 | .3 | 10.6 |
| 2009–10 | Miami | 78 | 0 | 27.9 | .494 | — | .762 | 8.1 | .7 | .4 | .3 | 9.9 |
| 2010–11 | Miami | 13 | 0 | 26.5 | .512 | — | .800 | 8.2 | .5 | .5 | .2 | 8.0 |
| 2011–12† | Miami | 64 | 10 | 24.8 | .423 | — | .814 | 7.3 | .7 | .5 | .4 | 6.0 |
| 2012–13† | Miami | 75 | 59 | 18.9 | .514 | — | .711 | 5.4 | .5 | .4 | .2 | 3.9 |
| 2013–14 | Miami | 46 | 18 | 14.2 | .507 | — | .568 | 3.8 | .3 | .2 | .3 | 3.8 |
| 2014–15 | Miami | 62 | 25 | 16.0 | .448 | .200 | .703 | 4.2 | .7 | .3 | .2 | 4.2 |
| 2015–16 | Miami | 37 | 0 | 7.0 | .337 | .111 | .750 | 2.0 | .4 | .1 | .1 | 1.6 |
| 2016–17 | Miami | 16 | 0 | 8.1 | .478 | .000 | .600 | 2.3 | .4 | .4 | .1 | 1.9 |
| 2017–18 | Miami | 14 | 0 | 5.1 | .200 | .125 | .500 | .7 | .4 | .0 | .1 | .6 |
| 2018–19 | Miami | 10 | 1 | 7.4 | .333 | .000 | .750 | 2.7 | .2 | .0 | .0 | 2.5 |
| 2019–20 | Miami | 4 | 1 | 11.0 | .364 | .333 | .750 | 4.0 | .3 | .0 | .0 | 3.0 |
| 2020–21 | Miami | 1 | 0 | 3.0 | 1.000 | — | — | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 4.0 |
| 2021–22 | Miami | 13 | 0 | 6.4 | .452 | .250 | 1.000 | 1.9 | .3 | .1 | .1 | 2.5 |
| 2022–23 | Miami | 7 | 1 | 10.1 | .345 | .333 | .800 | 1.6 | .0 | .1 | .3 | 3.9 |
| Career | 879 | 501 | 24.7 | .489 | .127 | .756 | 6.6 | .8 | .5 | .3 | 7.5 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Miami | 13 | 0 | 15.3 | .394 | — | .677 | 3.4 | .2 | .4 | .2 | 3.6 |
| 2005 | Miami | 15 | 15 | 36.2 | .491 | — | .739 | 10.0 | 1.0 | .5 | .4 | 9.2 |
| 2006† | Miami | 22 | 22 | 29.5 | .493 | .000 | .683 | 7.4 | .8 | .6 | .3 | 8.6 |
| 2007 | Miami | 4 | 4 | 25.8 | .480 | — | .750 | 5.3 | 1.0 | .3 | .5 | 7.5 |
| 2009 | Miami | 7 | 7 | 29.1 | .543 | — | .900 | 8.7 | .4 | .4 | .4 | 8.4 |
| 2010 | Miami | 5 | 0 | 28.4 | .351 | — | .667 | 7.4 | .8 | .2 | .2 | 6.0 |
| 2011 | Miami | 12 | 0 | 24.2 | .397 | — | .900 | 4.5 | .8 | .5 | .3 | 5.3 |
| 2012† | Miami | 22 | 11 | 20.5 | .455 | — | .743 | 6.4 | .6 | .2 | .3 | 4.8 |
| 2013† | Miami | 22 | 19 | 16.2 | .593 | — | .571 | 3.6 | .3 | .7 | .2 | 5.0 |
| 2014 | Miami | 16 | 6 | 10.6 | .459 | — | .600 | 2.6 | .3 | .1 | .2 | 2.5 |
| 2016 | Miami | 9 | 0 | 9.4 | .533 | — | .714 | 3.4 | .4 | .0 | .1 | 2.3 |
| 2023 | Miami | 2 | 0 | 1.5 | .000 | .000 | — | .5 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
| Career | 149 | 84 | 21.5 | .478 | .000 | .713 | 5.5 | .6 | .4 | .3 | 5.6 | |
College
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | Florida | 31 | — | 21.3 | .603 | .000 | .592 | 5.0 | .8 | .7 | .7 | 10.5 |
| 1999–00 | Florida | 37 | — | 22.4 | .579 | — | .639 | 5.1 | .9 | .8 | .8 | 11.8 |
| 2000–01 | Florida | 31 | 31 | 28.1 | .597 | — | .709 | 7.5 | 1.0 | .8 | 1.0 | 16.8 |
| 2001–02 | Florida | 31 | 31 | 28.3 | .562 | .000 | .694 | 8.3 | 1.6 | .9 | 1.3 | 16.0 |
| Career | 130 | 62 | 24.9 | .584 | .000 | .666 | 6.4 | 1.1 | .8 | .9 | 13.7 | |
Miami Heat Records
Regular Season Records
- Most rebounds (5,780)
- Most defensive rebounds (4,169)
- Most offensive rebounds (1,611)
Playoff Records
- Most offensive rebounds (230)
Awards and Honors
- 3× NBA champion: 2006, 2012, 2013
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team: 2004
- First undrafted player in NBA history to set a team rebounding record: 2012
Images for kids
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Haslem in 2024
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Haslem in 2007
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Haslem at a party with Dwyane Wade (center) and Antoine Walker (far right) in December 2005.
