. The Wizards won 114-97. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images / Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Udonis Haslem is forever engrained in Miami Heat history.
His 20-year stint with the organization is among some of the longest tenures by any NBA player with one team. With the Heat, Haslem won three championships. He faced off against different generations of basketball superstars.
Throughout his career, Haslem transitioned into a player-coach and his aggressive attitude on the court, even against the absolute greats, helped the Heat develop young players into stars. After his career, he took a role in the Heat front office, becoming the Vice President of Basketball Development following his retirement in July 2023.
Former No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden was with the Heat for one season in 2014. Oden recently appeared on the Knuckleheads Podcast hosted by former NBA stars Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson. On the podcast, he described how “heat culture” is defined by Haslem.
“The Miami Heat culture is defined by Udonis Haslem,” Oden claimed. “We all know that type of person he is, one of the best dudes, do anything for you but he gonna fight everybody in this b—-. Having some of the best players on the planet and seeing them commit to that type of culture, weight and body fat, 10% down every Monday, coming in early me and [Michael] Beasley up in that b—- at seven, getting our workouts in, cuz we the new guys on the team and me having to prove myself and just being in Miami and I know where i was coming from in my history in Portland I became the party dude i’m in Miami now.”
Oden would play overseas after his one-season stint in Miami but Haslem’s mentality is something he remembered throughout his professional basketball career.
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