On Christmas Day, Udonis Haslem is not playing in the NBA for the first time since 2002. But Haslem is going through a period of introspection and thankfulness in his life.
Over the weekend, Haslem celebrated the 15th anniversary of the B-Wootie Holiday Honor Roll Program and was reminded of the principles and legacy left by his late stepmother, Barbara Wooten. Since Wooten died on December 8 at the age of 78 from cancer, the event is now named in her honor.
“This was her idea,” Haslem said in reference to the honor roll initiative. “It was started by Barbara. She was passionate about it. Maintaining this program will help to ensure her legacy is upheld. This foundation will allow her to continue living. I’m even more driven to establish and grow this foundation so that I can honor her by changing as many lives as I can.”
Haslem organised an annual shopping spree
This past Saturday was the annual shopping spree organized by Haslem, who, before retiring last season, finished an incredible 20-year NBA career with the Miami Heat.
He kindly invited 100 honor roll students from Miami-Dade and Broward County schools, praising their academic success in spite of a variety of sociodemographic obstacles. After a $200 shopping spree at Walmart, the students enjoyed lunch and games at FunDimension.
Haslem, a Miami native who went to Miami High and devoted his whole two-decade NBA career to the Miami Heat, expressed his feelings and stressed the significance of showing children that there are people who genuinely care.
He recognized the prevalent inner-city mindset of feeling disregarded and inconsequential, stressing the importance of letting these children know they are not alone.
For Haslem, remaining a part of the community and its people is a personal gift that is greater than material achievements like wealth and rings. Wooten taught him a valuable lesson in this sincere approach.
Wooten entered Haslem’s life during his elementary school
Wooten entered Haslem’s life during his elementary school years and played a vital role in raising him. Haslem’s parents battled addiction during his childhood. The Udonis Haslem Children’s Foundation, which Wooten later co-founded, eventually changed its name to the Udonis Haslem Foundation.
Up until her recent death, she remained a well-known leader and actively engaged in the foundation.
Haslem believes Wooten helped mold him into the kind of person he is today—selfless, compassionate, and devoted. He cherishes the traditional values Wooten instilled in him, highlighting traits that are frequently disregarded in contemporary culture.
Wooten’s early selflessness, such as letting Haslem live in a two-bedroom apartment even though he was a parent, had a profound effect on him.
Being around Barbara Wooten and the experiences Haslem had as a child have greatly influenced who he is now, a successful individual.
Haslem has been reflecting on his life since Wooten’s death, lamenting the losses and feeling thankful for the times spent together.
Haslem said that he is taking it one day at a time. All he can do is that. Making an effort to be busy, but not overly so. Allowing himself the time and space to think and feel what he needs to. Humans have a tendency to feel sorry for themselves. But he’d prefer to take the opposite action.
He wishes to express his gratitude for the time he had with [Wooten]. He would like to thank her for her influence on his life. Maintaining equilibrium since it’s normal to want to feel sorry for yourself and wonder why. However, he would like to see it from an alternative angle.
The Heat and 76ers
The Heat had listed Butler (strained left calf) and Haywood Highsmith (non-COVID illness) as questionable for Monday’s Christmas game against the 76ers, but both were eventually ruled out. Furthermore, Josh Richardson (low back discomfort), who was originally classified as probable, was moved to the out category.
Due to a calf injury, Butler has missed three games in a row. Highsmith and Richardson were active in the Heat’s most recent game against the Atlanta Hawks but were not available for Monday’s game against the 76ers.
In addition, Dru Smith, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in November, is still out of commission for the Heat. Joel Embiid, the current NBA MVP, is sidelined for the 76ers because of a sprained right ankle. In addition to Embiid, Terquavion Smith (G League), Ricky Council IV (G League), and Nicolas Batum (right hamstring strain) were declared out of the 76ers’ game on Monday in Miami.
