“I think he’s still drunk from the party,” Udonis Haslem finally breaks silence following Jayson Tatum’s perceived shot at Miami Heat.
Udonis Haslem, a former player for the Miami Heat, has responded to remarks made recently by Jayson Tatum, a prominent player for the Boston Celtics, during the team’s celebration of their 2024 NBA title.
Tatum was questioned if the journey to Miami for celebration following Boston’s championship win was more enjoyable than previous trips during an event held at TD Garden. Haslem responded in a quite comical way when he remarked that all travels to Miami are simple.
Haslem stated, “I believe he is still intoxicated from the party.” “He couldn’t possibly believe that, he must be a little tipsy from the party.”
Boston regained the upper hand in the 2024 NBA Playoffs with a five-game, first-round victory against Miami. The Heat and Celtics have faced off numerous times in recent years as both teams have attempted to advance to the NBA Finals. In the 2024 NBA Finals, the Celtics overcame the Dallas Mavericks in the end to win their 18th championship as a team.
Haslem remarked of Tatum, “It’s OK, that’s what he’s supposed to say.” “To the Boston Celtics, congratulations. I won’t be a hater because we all know they’re the winners. After we are completely well, we will monitor the situation.
In the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals, Miami defeated Boston to secure a spot in the NBA Finals, where the Heat were defeated by the Denver Nuggets.
In addition, the Heat and Celtics faced off in the Eastern Conference Finals of 2022, with Boston emerging victorious, while Miami prevailed in the clubs’ 2020 Eastern Conference Finals series. Boston lost to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals and Miami to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2020 NBA Finals; neither team would go on to win a championship until this year.
After retiring after the 2022–2023 season, Haslem did not take part in the NBA Playoffs in 2024. Over the course of his 20 seasons as a player with the team, he won three NBA titles (2006, 2012, 2013). In the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals, he defeated the Celtics en route to victory.
Apart from his current role as an executive in the Heat organization, the 44-year-old is garnering attention in the media after making multiple appearances on ESPN recently. Haslem hasn’t shied away from defending the Heat during his media career, calling out hate speech aimed at them and arguing that they can still contend with the Celtics for Eastern Conference supremacy in the future.
The rivalry between the two teams is unlikely to diminish anytime soon because Tatum is still in his prime and the Celtics will probably always be a title contender.
