The Miami Heat franchise has recently honoured the three-time NBA champion, Udonis Haslem, by retiring his jersey number "40". The incredibly talented player has spent his entire NBA career with the Heat squad.
His jersey now adorns the Heat’s home arena, Kaseya Center. The ceremony took place during the half-break between the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks. Haslem, who is now the vice president of basketball development for the Heat organization, has now become one of the six players who have received the honour of retiring their jerseys from the Miami organisation.
According to the Miami Herald, Haslem revealed, "Look at the list of the guys I’m sitting with. That’s what’s huge to me. That’s what makes me feel so amazing is the core group of guys that I’m sitting with. Pat Riley ain’t just putting anybody up there. The Arisons ain’t just OK’ing anybody to go up in those rafters."
The other Heat prodigies whose numbers are retired and are Hall of Famers are Dwyane Wade, Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal, and Chris Bosh. Haslem averaged 7.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game during the length of his career but managed to carve his name in the historical halls of the Heat franchise.
He was undrafted in 2002 but went on to achieve the highest feat of the League with Miami and also led the league in total rebounds by an undrafted player. His role was also fundamental when the franchise went on to win three NBA titles during his tenure.
He further shared, "To be in that group and to be in that family of guys, that’s what’s going to be the most memorable to me because all of those guys are Hall of Famers. I might not get in [the Hall of Fame]. But in my heart, in my soul, I’m just as loved and just as appreciated in this organization as any of those guys."
Further sharing while grabbing his emotions, "You all got the money on me crying, don’t y’all? I know you all think I’m going to cry. Yeah, it’s hard. It’s hard. It’s hard. Heat Nation, it’s been an absolute honor, man."
Paul Pierce implies that Udonis Haslem didn’t earn his number getting retried 👀
(h/t @heatvshaters) pic.twitter.com/v66EesoEVu
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 21, 2024
Stephen Jackson says UD’s jersey getting retired is earned not given.
Paul Pierce replies with "this one given bro" pic.twitter.com/6hqMNNyK2x
— 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) January 21, 2024
However, the NBA champion and ten-time NBA All-Star Paul Pierce thinks that Haslem "didn’t earn" to have his number retired, as per the NBACentral.
Pierce has spent his career with multiple teams; however, with the Boston Celtics, he was from 1998–2013 and won the NBA championship in a match that was against the Los Angeles Lakers. He was also inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
Udonis will actually be more remembered by the Heat franchise than Poop pierce ever will be by the Celtics
— BeastBron💜💛 (@bronisabeast) January 21, 2024
UD got more rings than that fraud
— 𝓝𝓲𝓬𝓴🔥⚡️ (@SSJ_Nick3) January 21, 2024
Career accomplishments:
Rings:
Haslem 3, Pierce 1Pants shitted in:
Haslem 0, Pierce 1— 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) January 21, 2024
Final game stats:
Udonis Haslem:
24 points in 25 minutes.Paul Piece:
6 points in 22 minutes.— 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) January 21, 2024
He’s upset UD got a better farewell tour than him
— Tyler Boone (@TylerBoone2525) January 21, 2024
If Pierce did 20% of what UD has done for all the young recruits and the city of Miami as well as the organization of the HEAT he would be liked much more.
Unfortunately his jealousy of the heat and its players are still extremely transparent
— Rob W. (@Godspeed121212) January 21, 2024
It’s been a decade and Paul Pierce still can’t let it go 😭😭😭
— 𝓕𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓭𝓲𝓪𝓷 🏝️☀️🌴 (@myfuentes305) January 21, 2024
He’s not wrong
— FPL Deuce (Joe) ☘️ (@FPLDeuce) January 21, 2024
The community also shared their opinions on the remarks made by Paul Pierce.
