So, what will Udonis Haslem do now that he is no longer the captain of the Miami Heat?
It’s like he never left because he still keeps an eye on the team’s young players.
That made his trip to the Las Vegas summer league similar to what he did on the practice court this past season, the last of his career.
Udonis Haslem’s Impactful Mentorship and the Legacy Continues
In Las Vegas, everyone was talking about Orlando Robinson and Jamal Cain, who were doing well in summer league until the end of Sunday, when Udonis Haslem was sitting courtside.
Udonis Haslem said in a WQAM interview, “Those are the guys I’m closest to because I spent the most time with them.”
Robinson was guaranteed a standard deal even before the summer league started. With his good play over the past two weeks, Cain is likely on his way there.
“He’s another Heat guy,” Udonis Haslem said about Cain. “He is one of the guys who has been with me the most. He is one of the guys I am closest to, along with Orlando. During the season, when I’m not getting that work in or playing regularly, what you say about what I give to these guys is true, but these two guys gave me so much last season.”
During Udonis Haslem’s last seasons, he mostly tried to help others by paying it forward. That also keeps going.
When Jaime Jaquez Jr., the 18th pick in the first round out of UCLA, joined the Miami Heat last month, he said the first player he talked to was Udonis Haslem, who had just finished his 20th and final NBA season, all with the Heat.
Udonis Haslem said, “We talked a few times, and we’ve stayed in touch all through summer league in Sacramento and Las Vegas.” “He’s a culture guy, for sure. It was a good buy.
I’m looking forward to being more active and working with him to finish the process.
“I keep in touch with all of these guys. With how things are now, you’re just a FaceTime call away. So, Niko (Jovic), all of these guys hear my voice often.”
But that doesn’t mean that the torch isn’t being passed. Udonis Haslem has made it clear that the process has already started with center Bam Adebayo.
Haslem said, “Most people don’t know how to play basketball, so they don’t know how important a player like Bam Adebayo is and what he brings to the table.”
“I’m excited to see him grow not only as a player but also as a leader in the next stage.”
Dwyane Wade’s entry into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on August 12 is the next big event on the Heat’s schedule.
Haslem, who watched the Heat’s final summer league game in Las Vegas with Wade, said, “Every time I get a chance to give my brother flowers and celebrate the great career he had, I want to make the most of it.” “Now that we’ve reached this point in our lives, we should treasure those times even more. The memories, things, and experiences we’ve had are precious. So I’m excited to have the chance. He deserves it.”
