Every NBA team needs their emotional leader, who represents the personality and demeanor of the entire team. For most teams it is their best player, but it may not be for others. For example, Golden State's leader in their entire run from the mid-2010s to now has been Draymond Green.
For the Miami Heat in the past few years, it has been Udonis Haslem. As a sage veteran who only plays a handful of minutes a game, when he's lucky, players look to Udonis to provide an emotional spark when needed.
At times, Haslem will come into a game, earn a technical foul, and go back to the bench, inserting passion and liveliness into the Heat's play.
For these contributions, all-time Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade insists the team will retire his jersey number once he calls it quits. He confidently told TMZ that the team surely will bestow that honor upon Haslem: "They will."
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The Heat retired Wade's jersey swiftly after his exit from basketball, making it the total number of jerseys hanging from the rafters seven. The others include Chris Bosh, Tim Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O'Neal and two for sentimental purposes in Dan Marino, for his contributions on Miami's football team the Dolphins, and Michael Jordan, for just his absolute greatness at basketball.
So, you would imagine that if they consider Marino and MJ worthy of this honor, Udonis surely should be too. He has spent his entire career in Miami, and averages 7.6 points and 6.7 rebounds on 49% FG in his career.
Do you think the Heat should retire his number?
[Via]
