“I could cry with you,” Udonis Haslem said about what he could do for his former teammate Dwyane Wade. For years, both have had each other’s back before one could even ask for it. This is why the Heat legend’s frustration is understandable when DWade kept his surgery back from him. It wasn’t just a simple surgery that he had undergone in 2024. And that time was tough for Wade and his family. Much later when Haslem finally found out about it, he was upset and hurt that he was kept in the dark for over a year. 

Just a few days ago, Wade in his podcast shared that 40 percent of his kidney had to be removed during this surgery. It was to prevent any issues if the tumor detected was cancerous. And it was through the podcast that his former teammate whom he considers as his brother found out about it. It was shocking for the fans and even more heartbreaking for Haslem who couldn’t be with Wade during that tough time. 

He was reminded of how hurt he was when their former teammate Alonzo Mourning was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He called the NBA legend and talked to him. “When zo had this little issue with his health that s— hurt my heart..” Haslem said. The Miami Heat legend did the same for Wade. Even if it was late, he called DWade. 

“We talked about it beforehand but he said I just had a little small procedure. I thought it was something like then I came in then obviously you start reading what he was really going on I call that n—- I say man don’t never let me read no s— like that in the paper no more man,” Haslem said on Out The Mud Podcast. He added, “I know I can’t help you and I ain’t no doctor….I can pray I can pray with you I could cry with you like I could go whatever I could do man it’s a real brotherhood.”

Stepping into the new year, DWade finally found the courage to open up about this difficult period of his life. He had not been able to do so even a few months back. While he did keep it back from his beloved brother and former teammate, Wade wasn’t fine with it. In his podcast later, he explained his situation and the reason for doing so. He also apologized to Haslem. 

Dwyane Wade apologized to Udonis Haslem after revealing details about his surgery 

Speaking on his podcast with Bob Metelus, Wade recalled how this was the toughest period of his life. It must have been hard for Haslem as well, who had previously lost his mother, brother, and stepmother to cancer, to find out about it a year later. Wade shared that as soon as he revealed his cancer diagnosis and the surgery required for it, Haslem was one of the first to call him. 

Explaining his reason, Wade explained, “When you meet people you don’t want to always talk about the negative. You want to get into some of the things that make you guys laugh and smile and love being around each other,” he continued. “I got a call from my brother UD right away when it dropped like you didn’t tell me yeah about this and I had to apologize to him because it wasn’t for anything more so than like man I’m just trying to handle my things over here and internally as my family, we kept it real tight and that is my brother that is my family,” Wade recalled.

Coming from the same tough background, Wade and Haslem forged a brotherhood built on unspoken understanding. Whenever one is going through a hard time, the other shows up. That’s the bond the former teammates have and they continue to strengthen it.