MEMPHIS – Udonis Haslem vowed that even in retirement he would remain a presence around the Miami Heat.
That presence now will come in the team’s front office, in a hybrid role that will allow him to continue to work as a mentor with the team’s players, including aiding coach Erik Spoelstra.
Having retired in the wake of the NBA Finals after spending his entire 20-season NBA career with the team, Haslem, 43, on Tuesday was named the Heat’s vice president of basketball development.
In the newly-created role, Haslem’s responsibilities will include being a source to the coaching staff, mentoring both Heat and G League Sioux Falls Skyforce players, as well as representing the organization in the community and in business endeavors.
Haslem joins Alonzo Mourning, Shane Battier, Caron Butler, Malik Allen, Chris Quinn, Wayne Ellington, Keith Askins and Glen Rice as former Heat players working with the team.
Haslem has stressed that with his outside philanthropic and business ventures, that he did not want to be tied down to a coaching role. He has, however, continually pushed for a Heat ownership stake.
Haslem recently had entered the broadcast realm, working for both CBS Sports HQ and Turner Broadcasting.
Haslem had served as Heat captain for his final 16 seasons, with protege Bam Adebayo for the first time assuming that role this season.
The Heat are expected to retire Haslem’s No. 40 jersey later this season, having already feted him before his final regular-season game last season.
He made clear then that he wasn’t going anywhere.
“This is a forever thing,” the Miami native and Southwest Ranches resident, said. “There’s too much love here. There’s too many sacrifices. There’s too much success.”
Spoelstra said he has embraced Haslem remaining a presence, calling him a symbol of Heat culture.
“If you tried to explain our culture, you’d just show highlights of UD,” Spoelstra said, “not only in games, but if you could find just footage of him on the practice court, or of mentoring when no one else is in the gym, but somebody needs to do extra conditioning. And UD, who has proven everything in this game, is running with a young player, just to show them support.”
This story will be updated.