Udonis Haslem has not but determined if he’ll return to the Miami Warmth for a twentieth season. If he does select to proceed his taking part in profession, he’ll be a part of a really brief record.
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With Haslem turning 42 on Thursday, he has the chance to develop into simply the seventh participant in NBA historical past to look in a sport after their forty second birthday. Nat Hickey (ultimate sport at 45), Kevin Willis (ultimate sport at 44), Robert Parish (ultimate sport at 43), Vince Carter (ultimate sport at 43), Dikembe Mutombo (ultimate sport at 42) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (ultimate sport at 42) are the one ones who’ve completed that uncommon feat.
“As regular, I’ll take my time,” Haslem stated final week on exit interview day, delaying his determination between retirement and returning for a twentieth season till later this offseason. “I’ll sit down with the household, Pat, Micky [Arison] and speak about what’s subsequent and the place it goes.”
If Haslem chooses to return to the Warmth’s roster, he will even be a part of a brief record of gamers to look in no less than 20 NBA seasons that at the moment solely consists of Carter, Parish, Willis, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant and Jamal Crawford. LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony may also develop into a part of that group subsequent season.
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Requested whether or not he desires to return subsequent season, Haslem stated if he bought what he wished he could be taking part in within the NBA Finals proper now as a substitute of getting the Warmth’s season finish in Sport 7 of the Japanese Convention finals.
“I wish to be taking part in proper now. I didn’t get what I wished. I wish to nonetheless be taking part in,” stated Haslem, a Miami native. “So I’m not getting what I would like within the second. Proper now, it’s time to take a psychological break after which determine that out after that.”
Haslem instructed the Miami Herald in November that he has a objective of reaching the 20-season mark due to the historic facet of it and it’s additionally a milestone his late father, Johnnie Haslem, wished him to succeed in.
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“To say {that a} child who no one actually gave an opportunity to, to do 20 years on this group at this degree and break data and win championships,” Haslem stated in November, “I feel for me, that might be a present to myself. That was one thing that my father wished. So I feel it’s one thing that I nonetheless have the flexibility to perform. That’s one thing that we’re trying ahead to.”
Whether or not Haslem nonetheless feels that strongly about returning for a twentieth season months later is unclear. Warmth president Pat Riley stated earlier this week throughout his season-ending information convention that Haslem is welcome again whether or not it’s as a participant or in one other position.
“Once you bought 20 years of expertise like he does and he’s educated and he has the correct disposition for this group, we would like him to be on this group so long as he desires to be,” Riley stated. “I imply, defining precisely what it’s that he desires to do, I’d like to have UD round in no matter capability. We haven’t mentioned any of that as a result of I nonetheless suppose he’s combating, ‘I wish to be on the court docket.’ … So I’ll sit down with UD. I like him to demise.”
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Haslem has made it recognized repeatedly that he’s not thinking about changing into a coach when his taking part in profession involves an finish. His hope is to as a substitute develop into a part of the Warmth’s possession group within the close to future.
“Teaching don’t work for me. I’m going to inform you why, I bought an excessive amount of happening exterior on this metropolis,” Haslem stated. “I bought an excessive amount of. I’m a enterprise man exterior of my franchises. The following step is the psychological well being and drug rehab facility that we’re engaged on. I even have reasonably priced housing initiatives, my FTX partnership. I additionally ventured out into the medical area with my spouse. So it’s only a lot happening proper now. I don’t have the time to dedicate. I do know coaches bought to be right here earlier than the gamers. It’s arduous sufficient for me to get right here as it’s now. So teaching doesn’t work for me.”
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Haslem, who went undrafted out of the College of Florida in 2002, has spent every of his 19 NBA seasons with the Warmth. It’s the longest present streak by any lively participant with just one crew within the league.
Throughout that point, Haslem performed a job on every of the Warmth’s three championship groups and have become the one undrafted participant in NBA historical past to be a franchise’s all-time main rebounder.
Haslem hasn’t performed a lot in latest seasons, although. He has appeared in simply 28 video games because the begin of the 2018-19 season and has not performed in a playoff sport since 2016, as he has moved into extra of a management position whereas serving because the Warmth’s captain in every of the final 15 seasons.
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Haslem’s scenario is exclusive and particular, as he’s solely the fifth participant to spend a whole NBA profession lasting no less than 19 seasons with one crew. That record consists of Nowitzki (21 seasons with Dallas Mavericks), Bryant (20 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers), John Stockton (19 seasons with Utah Jazz) and Tim Duncan (19 seasons with San Antonio Spurs).
Haslem is the one one to do it in his hometown.
“I feel impacting this group, that’s at all times going to be a precedence for me,” Haslem stated. “That’s at all times going to be one thing close to and pricey to my coronary heart. That’s at all times going to be one thing that’s necessary to me. And that’s at all times going to be one thing that’s going to carry out the most effective in me as a result of when it’s one thing that’s necessary to you and it’s one thing that you just actually care about, you give it the most effective model of your self and it doesn’t appear to be work.”
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Anthony Chiang covers the Miami Warmth for the Miami Herald. He attended the College of Florida and was born and raised in Miami.
The honeymoon period is over for the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Sure, if Butler and the Heat had their choice, things would feel more comfortable than they do. His future is unsettled beyond the 2024-25 NBA season—the final locked-in year on his contract—and it sounds like things could stay that way for a while.
In theory, the two sides could negotiate a contract extension at any time, but neither appears fully sold on the concept yet. Or not on the other’s preferred terms, at least.
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Butler reportedly has no plans to ink out a contract extension (with Miami or any team he might be traded to) ahead of next summer’s opt-out clause, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The Heat, meanwhile, seem unconvinced he’s worth a blank-check commitment due to availability issues that caught the public ire of team president Pat Riley.
Butler, to Riley’s point, has had trouble staying on the hardwood of late. Butler has yet to miss fewer than double-digit games with the Heat and just sat out their first-round loss to the Boston Celtics due to a knee sprain. With his 35th birthday arriving in September and some heavy tread on his tires (he was once a prized pupil of Tom Thibodeau, after all), it is reasonable to wonder whether these issues are here to stay.
None of this helps with the current climate around the club and its star swingman. Things feel tense from afar and might induce even more anxiety up close. This is decidedly not fun.
It also isn’t a nightmare, or anything close to it. In fact, it could prove to be a good thing depending on how each responds.
If Butler’s plan is to get paid after his age-35 season, then he needs to hoop in a way that makes clear not only is he still within his prime, but he has several prime years still ahead. He needs to show the superstar form he’s been able to summon during Miami’s long postseason runs with him. He has to be at his absolute best, which would provide obvious perks for his employer.
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The Heat, meanwhile, need to do the same. They must operate in a manner that convinces him his best shot at capturing the crown is found right where’s at. Maybe that’s as simple as the team performing well and Erik Spoelstra coaching his rear off. Perhaps it means making that all-in trade push that keeps being speculated about but still hasn’t happened.
Butler and this franchise have long felt like a happy couple. A hard-working, incredibly conditioned, ferociously competitive couple, but ultimately a content one.
Now, that contentment seems harder to spot. Perhaps that splits them apart, but it also might motivate them to push harder than ever to make this marriage work.
Zach Buckley works as a contributing writer to Inside the Heat. He can be reached at zbuck07@gmail.com or follow him on X @ZachBuckleyNBA.
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MIAMI (WSVN) – Days after thieves targeted a church in Miami, an anonymous good Samaritan lent a helping hand and gave a much-needed donation that will keep the congregation cool during services once again.
A 7News viewer chipped in to help the Gospel Arena International Ministry, located on Northwest Seventh Avenue and 75th Street, Thursday afternoon.
“Because of the news, someone called me today and said, ‘I wanna just sponsor both units,’” said Pastor Junior Thompson.
The good Samaritan donated three new air conditioning units. Thompson thanked a higher power for the donated units arriving when they did.
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“I thank God for all the donations that came from people that I don’t even know,” said Thompson. “I mean, these people, I never came in contact with, but thanks be to God that our blessings come back to us, because we love our community, and we’re here for our community.”
Before the units were installed, Minister Alex Alexander said a recent service was practically unbearable.
“It was so hot Sunday,” said Alexander.
He looked over towards his pastor, who was also drenched.
“He preached for like 45 minutes with a suit on, and it was really pipping in the church,” said Alexander.
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But the congregation pushed through.
“God brought us still,” said Alexander.
“Everyone was sweating and fanning,” said Pastor Emmanuel Bryant.
Bryant said they initially thought the AC was broken.
“We just assumed that it was malfunctioning, so we just continued to have service like normal,” he said.
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But that wasn’t the case. A technician noticed two AC units were gone.
“We believe they used this cage was actually on top of this. We believe they put the cage there to climb up on the roof,” said Bryant.
Another unit had cuts and broken wires.
The church community said they’re praying for the culprit.
“We pray for the person who did it. We pray for their family,” said Alexander.
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“We don’t wish these people any harm, because obviously, there is something seriously wrong that needs addressing,” said Joseph Wade.
Originally, estimates for the repairs exceeding $20,000, which is a lot of money for a church that serves its community only using donations.
“We’re just heartbroken to know that the AC was missing, and then to find out how much it would cost to get the replacement,” said Bryant.
But with the donated units being installed, the church is beyond thankful.
“Thank you all. Thanks, Channel 7 News, for what you’ve done,” said Thompson. “Look around. You can see it right now: two brand-new units, better than what we had,”
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The good Samaritan wanted to remain anonymous for their grateful donation. The pastor says a third AC unit will also be delivered and installed soon.
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MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A 5-year-old boy died on Friday night after fire rescue personnel and police officers responded to Miami-Dade County’s Richmond West neighborhood.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel used a helicopter to airlift the boy after responding to a house with a pool along Southwest 168 Terrace, near 149 Avenue.
According to Detective Angel Rodriguez, a spokesman for the Miami-Dade Police Department, the boy was pronounced dead at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital.
“Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced deceased,” Rodriguez wrote in a statement.
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According to Rodriguez, homicide detectives were investigating the boy’s death.
Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Wilson Louis contributed to this report.
Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
