LeBron James may have been THE star for the Miami Heat’s 2 championships, but does that make him the franchise hero? Well, even before this comes into consideration, Dwyane Wade has one name on priority before Bron. If you guessed Udonis Haslem, you could not be more right. Makes sense considering that Bron spent a brief time in South Beach as compared to UD’s two-decade span. However, the preference from D-Wade came in a different aspect.

During an interview with REVOLVE, Dwyane Wade was asked if he could choose another Miami Heat icon to have a statue beside his own. Who would it be? “… It would be Udonis Haslem. His work that he’s done on the basketball court is hand in hand with what I’ve done. And I feel like what he’s done off the court has been second to none.”

Well, if you’ve followed the Heat, Haslem’s journey is one you can’t help but appreciate. A Miami native, he went undrafted in 2002—far from the typical path to NBA stardom. Yet, instead of letting that setback define him, Haslem signed with his hometown team and never looked back. For 20 seasons, he poured everything into the Heat, becoming a key part of their success and helping them clinch three championships in 2006, 2012, and 2013.

With this, he became the only third player to have played at least 20 seasons with a single franchise. The other two names on the list are Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki. But to UD’s credit, he’s the only one to do it with his hometown team. “And so I think his impact in Miami, period, is something that’s to live on way beyond his lifetime,” Wade said without a second thought.

And sure, Wade leads the franchise in many categories, but did you know Haslem is the only undrafted player to lead a franchise in total rebounds? He put up 6,586 points and grabbed 5,791 rebounds during his Heat career. But even after retiring, Haslem’s love for the Heat remains as strong as ever.

The 3x NBA champ has been aiming for a new challenge—to become a part-owner of the team. Not an easy path, yes, but UD is as determined as ever. “I’m still working on it,” he once said. “It’s not an easy task, but that’s still the goal… make no mistake about it, the major goal is to be a part of ownership, and that’s the end-all be-all for me.”

Udonis Haslem’s off-the-court involvement with the Miami Heat

The fact that the Heat did not want to let the 3x NBA champ be disassociated from the franchise even after his retirement speaks volumes about the mutual love and respect. That’s why, in 2023, they brought him on as the vice president of basketball development.

So, what does Haslem do now? He’s not just sitting in a boardroom. He’s out there working closely with the coaching staff. Mentoring players from both the Heat and their G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He’s also become a familiar face in the community, representing the Heat in various business ventures.

And Riley has even bigger dreams for him—like stepping into a coaching role someday. “I keep nudging him about it,” Riley admitted. Even though Haslem has resisted the idea so far, Riley believes he’d be perfect for the job. It’s clear why Dwyane Wade stated he considers UD deserving of a statue of his own.