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Udonis Haslem signed another contract with the Miami Heat the 10th of his career, marking his 19th season with Miami.
It is a one-year deal worth about $2.8 million, making the 41-year-old only the fifth player to spend an entire career spanning at least 19 years with one franchise. Dirk Nowitzki spent 21 with Dallas, Kobe Bryant spent 20 with the Los Angeles Lakers, Tim Duncan spent 19 with San Antonio and John Stockton spent 19 with Utah.
Haslem barely plays, with just five appearances in the last two seasons, coach Erik Spoelstra considers him essential for the example he sets in practice for other players and how much the Miami native values the role of being the captain.
“Udonis Haslem has agreed to come back and play the game he loves so much,” Heat President Pat Riley said. “What he loves more than that is to be on the court teaching and competing against the world’s best. UD is a legacy player … ONE PLAYER, ONE CITY, ONE TEAM. Thank you, UD, for coming back to lead again in your city, your organization and your team.”
Haslem is currently the 11th-oldest player to appear in a game in NBA history, and would move to seventh passing Charles Jones, John Stockton, Herb Williams and Bob Cousy, if he gets into a game anytime after Nov. 8.
Haslem’s lone appearance last season, saw him score four points, a rebound, he drew a charge, was whistled for two technical fouls and got ejected against Philadelphia in a span of 2 minutes, 40 seconds.
“If this is the last one, I finished it the only way Udonis Haslem could — with an ejection,” Haslem said that night.