Udonis Haslem returning to Heat for 18 - NBA

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Udonis Haslem returning to Heat for 18th season

TIM REYNOLDS


MIAMI (AP) — Udonis Haslem announced Friday that he’s returning for an 18th
season with the Miami Heat, and left the door open for extending his career af
ter that.

Only five NBA players have spent a career of that length with one franchise. D
irk Nowitzki spent 21 years with Dallas, Kobe Bryant 20 years with the Los Ang
eles Lakers, Tim Duncan spent 19 with San Antonio, John Stockton spent 19 with
Utah and Reggie Miller spent 18 with Indiana.

Haslem doesn’t play regularly and hasn’t for years: He got into just four ga
mes last season and has scored 76 points in the last four seasons combined. Hi
s impact on the team comes from what he says and does in the locker room, and
that’s why Heat coach Erik Spoelstra lobbied for Haslem to come back.


“He’s just an incredible rock of stability and leadership and mentorship,”
Spoelstra said during the NBA Finals last month. “That’s at all levels. It’
s not just to our young players. It’s to our veteran players. And he provides
just great guidance and mentorship to this head coach as well. I love him.”

So will this be the end?

“Spo told me don't answer that question," Haslem said at his announcement, he
ld inside one of the Subway restaurants he owns in South Florida. “Spo said w
e'll continue to talk about it."

By NBA rule, the Heat cannot negotiate with Haslem until Nov. 20 and the earli
est he can sign his new contract — his ninth with the Heat — is Nov. 22. It
’ll be a one-year deal worth $2,564,753.

Haslem’s next appearance for the Heat will make him the oldest player in fran
chise history. His final appearance this past season was Aug. 14, at 40 years
and 66 days old. That’s three days younger than Juwan Howard was when he play
ed his final Heat game on April 17, 2013.

Haslem was one of three 40-somethings to play in the NBA last season: Vince Ca
rter was 43 when he retired after the season and Jamal Crawford, 40, appeared
in one game with the Brooklyn Nets during the NBA restart at Walt Disney World
.

Crawford is about 2 1/2 months older than Haslem and is unsigned for next seas
on.

Haslem is Miami’s all-time leading rebounder, ranks second behind only Dwyane
Wade in games and minutes played, and is No. 7 on the Heat career scoring lis
t.

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哈隊長再戰一年！

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