Udonis Haslem explains goal of becoming part of Heat ownership group: ‘I’m very qualified’

With forward Udonis Haslem about to begin his 20th and final NBA season, he already has visions of his next position within the Miami Heat organization after his playing career comes to an end.

Haslem, 42, has made it clear on multiple occasions that he hopes to become part of the Heat ownership group led by the father-son duo of managing general partner Micky Arison and chief executive officer Nick Arison in the near future.

“I just want to continue to lead at the highest level,” Haslem said to the Miami Herald last month just minutes after announcing his decision to return to the Heat for a 20th NBA season. “When I look at all the positions and all the opportunities, it makes no sense to do nothing but go straight to the top. It’s not like I don’t deserve it. It’s not like I’m not qualified because I’m very qualified.”

Haslem’s qualifications are unique, too, as the Miami native is on track to spend his entire NBA career of 20 seasons with the Heat. Haslem will join Dirk Nowitzki (21 seasons with Dallas Mavericks) and Kobe Bryant (20 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers) as the only players in league history to spend an entire NBA career lasting at least 20 seasons with one team, and Haslem is the the only one to do it in his hometown.

Haslem, who has made it known that he has no interest in becoming a coach after he retires, has already begun to initiate conversations with Heat executives regarding a potential ownership stake. He expects those discussions to continue in the coming months.

“It will continue to rev up,” Haslem said of ownership conversations with Heat executives. “I’m going to continue to have them. I’m very ambitious and I’ve been creating a lot of the communication. But they’ve been receptive.”

Money will be part of those discussions, as NBA bylaws say any ownership stake must be for at least 1 percent. With the Heat valuated at more than $2 billion, a 1 percent stake would likely cost at least $20 million.

Whatever happens, Haslem just doesn’t want his pursuit of a piece of Heat ownership to end like retired Heat great and close friend Dwyane Wade’s did. Although there appeared to be some mutual interest between the Heat and Wade in having him become part of the organization’s ownership group, Wade ultimately purchased an ownership stake in the Utah Jazz in April 2021.

“We have to figure it out, man,” Haslem said. “What we’re not going to do is let it end how it ended with Dwyane and a lot of other guys. We’re not going to let that happen. We have to learn from those mistakes and we have to do better, all of us. There’s too much sacrifice, too many memories, too much success to let it end that way because in the blink of an eye it can all be different. I’ve seen it. I’ve watched how in the blink of an eye, everything can change and all you will have is your memories and you want to share those with the people that you created them with.”

What type of owner would Haslem be?

“Hybrid. I want to do everything,” Haslem said. “I want to learn everything from ticket sales to marketing. I want to travel, I want to be at practice. I want to actually be an owner that’s going to bring value and add value. I think the respect that I have around this league is probably second to none. That’s not me bragging. That’s just what I’ve gathered from everybody. People interact and react to me, and it even shocks me sometimes because a lot of times I don’t get a chance to meet or know these guys.

“I have all kinds of guys from other teams, including some superstars from other teams, reaching out and asking for advice because they value my advice and they value my opinion and I trust that. Often times, there’s a breakdown in trust when it comes to ownership and players. There’s never going to be that in this situation or any situation that involves me.”

Undrafted out of Florida in 2002, Haslem has played a role on each of the franchise’s three championship teams and is the Heat’s all-time leading rebounder. He’s the only undrafted player in NBA history to lead a franchise in total rebounds.

But Haslem hasn’t played much in recent seasons. He has appeared in just 28 games since the start of the 2018-19 season and has not played in a playoff game since 2016, as he has moved into more of a leadership role while serving as the Heat’s captain in each of the last 15 seasons (the longest tenure in team history).

For now, Haslem wants to continue leading for the Heat in the locker room as he prepares for his final NBA season.

“The only thing I want is for these guys to reach their highest goals and highest potential for themselves,” Haslem said. “I almost did a cartwheel when I saw Caleb [Martin] get his contract. That’s the stuff that makes me feel good. Because it’s another situation that it’s another guy that we saved. He was on a two-way contract. People don’t understand that when you’re on a two-way like Caleb, you’re literally one injury or one coach or one trade away from being a role player or out the league. It can literally be like that. So to be that instrumental in the process of those guys, I don’t think people understand how good that makes somebody feel. I don’t think people understand like how impactful that is for these guys.”

If his ownership plans don’t come to fruition with the Heat, Haslem has yet to even contemplate the possibility of taking on such a role with another NBA team.

“I never thought about it and I don’t want that to be the case,” he said.