The end of the 2023 NBA Finals in June also marked the end of the career of Udonis Haslem. Undrafted out of Florida. Haslem joined the Heat in 2003, with whom he would spend the entirety of his 20-year career. Along the way, Haslem contributed to three championships, became the franchise’s leader in rebounds, and became the defining image of Heat culture.
Before the playoffs, Sports Illustrated asked Dwyane Wade—who entered the NBA with Haslem—to reflect on their 20-year friendship and Haslem’s career. Here’s Wade, in his own words, on the legacy of UD.
