“I Lied and Said I’m 6′8”: Udonis Haslem Confesses Real Height After Hiding It for “Desperate” Need

After 20 seasons in the NBA, Udonis Haslem can safely admit he figuratively lied on his resume. And he’s not sorry about it. On The OGs this week, he ripped apart the entire process of qualifying for the NBA draft. He makes himself sound like his true physique wouldn’t have got him into the NBA. And then what? There was no predicting if Miami Heat would’ve won the three championships without one of its longstanding pillars – Heat Culture. Haslem takes a fair bit of pride in proving that the physical doesn’t count in the draft process.

He even took off his sunglasses to look his co-hosts and camera dead-on when he said, “All you motherf***ers that sit at home that never played and worry how high somebody jump, and how fast they run and draft them based off that… that has nothing to do with winning or losing. I hope you know that now because a joker can’t jump over a biscuit.”

He proceeded to give himself as an example. “I’m 6’6″. I lied and said I’m 6’8″ but I got three rings“. The official NBA records still list him as 6’7″. By his admission, he’s shorter by an inch.

Yet, per UD’s point, an inch or two, wingspan, how high can a young athlete jump, doesn’t count. It’s more about what’s on the inside. Sappy, but valid.

Haslem even called out the NBA scouts, “All you motherf**ers that sit at home and the wingspan and all. That’s the problem, they don’t measure heart. They don’t measure how desperate a  motherf***ers is to put in position to take care of his family, what’s his ‘why,’  why is he doing this.”

Over two decades ago, scouts didn’t measure Haslem’s heart and grit. And it nearly cost a franchise.

Udonis Haslem was not replaceable

Miami-born and bred, Udonis Haslem was the reason the Florida Gators made regular NCAA championship appearances. Athletically, he was promising, averaging 13.7 PPG and 6.7 rebounds during his Florida tenure. He went to the NBA pre-draft camp in 2002 but went undrafted in the 2002 NBA draft due to his relatively shorter height for a forward.

Two other attempts to make it in via the Seattle Supersonics and Atlanta Hawks fell through. So, UD went overseas to play in the Chalon-Sur-Saone of the French LNB Pro A. He came back the following year and signed with his hometown team, Miami Heat. From there, it was All-Rookie honors, leading the franchise in rebounds, three championships, and playing time per season in triple digits.

In his later seasons, the veteran’s minutes on the court declined, but he was an extension of the coaching staff and mentor to players like Jimmy Butler. There was some criticism about why he was being paid millions for not playing. But for the Miami Heat, Udonis Haslem had been the heart for 20 years.