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.
Bam Adebayo gifts Udonis Haslem a rocking chair ahead of his final regular season game. 🏀😂 pic.twitter.com/g5Wllfl6Gc
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) April 9, 2023
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.
A standing ovation for Udonis Haslem as he checks into his final regular season home game 👏 pic.twitter.com/VfiHFdF0O7
— NBA (@NBA) April 9, 2023
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.
UDONIS HASLEM ALLEY-OOP 😱
HE DROPPED 13 PTS IN THE FIRST.
📺: Live on the NBA App pic.twitter.com/LMXKHPxKs3
— NBA (@NBA) April 9, 2023
OG UDONIS HASLEM 🔥
Playing in his final regular season game
Has 13 POINTS in 9 MINUTES, his 7th career THREE and an ALLEY-OOP DUNK!13 is the most points he's scored in 8 years! pic.twitter.com/KbqW0zinNz
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) April 9, 2023
Udonis Haslem scored 13 points in the first quarter against the Magic.
It's the most points he's scored in a game since 2015 😳 pic.twitter.com/hKiQNBcjcV
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 9, 2023
Wade sat right by the court and sported a Haslem jersey to support his pal.
DWade is rocking the Udonis Haslem jersey for his final regular season home game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YFQYTq5w1F
— NBA (@NBA) April 9, 2023
It turned out to be a special Sunday for Haslem, who will now prep for his final playoff appearance with Miami.
20 years later 🔥
Udonis Haslem has had a memorable career 👏 pic.twitter.com/BfSdFaGPQP
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 9, 2023
