For Udonis Haslem, the toughest battles weren’t the ones on the court—they were the ones life threw at him off of it. While his 17-year-old son still has the comfort of family by his side, Haslem has endured heartbreaking losses, with cancer taking almost everyone he loved.
His mother, his stepmother, and even his father—gone. “Probably the toughest time I’ve ever had to encounter. The biggest challenge that I’ve ever faced,” he admitted. For a man who built his career on toughness and resilience, this was a fight no amount of grit could prepare him for.
His birth mother, Debra, passed away in 2010, and his stepmother, Barbara Wooten, who raised him. And then there was his father, John “Deke” Haslem, his first coach, the man who molded him into one of the longest-tenured NBA players. Back in the day, Debra, Barbara, and John would always be there, watching him play. No matter what. Now, those seats sit empty. So, when Miami Heat honored Haslem during his jersey retirement, they made sure his family was still part of the moment.
They pulled out the exact seats his parents once sat in, “etched their names in gold,” and gifted them to him. “That was emotional,” Haslem admitted. The Heat even installed new seats in their place, forever linking the Haslem family to the franchise. “I could have never imagined that happening. I didn’t see that coming,” he shared, overwhelmed by the gesture.
But the pain never truly fades. On his recent podcast, while speaking to guest Keyon Dooling, Haslem reflected on their shared grief. “I was able to be there, you know, with you and for you in one of your toughest times, and then, you know, fast-track years later, and I lose my father.”
The weight of his words hung heavy as he continued, “You think that you’ll have an eternity with them… I never thought that I would be sitting here right now with my father, my stepmother, and my mother, all deceased.”
Dec 10, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem (40) bows his head during pregame ceremonies before the start of the game against the San Antonio Spurs at FTX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
For Haslem, losing his father hit the hardest. “Everything you see on the basketball court—the fire, the passion, the ability to get people to follow you and believe in themselves—that’s all my dad, man. That’s who he is. That’s who he was,” he said after John’s passing. Now, Haslem carries his father’s legacy forward, vowing to fight the disease that took his family from him.
Udonis Haslem’s fight against cancer
Losing both parents to cancer could have broken Udonis Haslem. But it lit a fire in him. Even through the “pain,” he never felt lost. So, he teamed up with the Baptist Health Foundation and the Miami Heat for an initiative called Bounce Back from Cancer. But this wasn’t just another fundraiser—it was a movement.
The goal? Raise $5 million for research and clinical trials at the Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute. And Haslem didn’t just meet that target—he crushed it. On March 15, he led the charge, rallying the community to walk or dribble for the cause, proving once again why he’s a leader both on and off the court.
“Big shoutout to @ud40 for leading the charge at #BounceBackfromCancer… A record-breaking $5+ million was raised for research at @baptisthealthsf Miami Cancer Institute,” the Baptist Health Foundation announced, celebrating the massive win. But the fight isn’t over. There’s still time to make an impact, with donations open until March 31.
For Haslem, though, this isn’t just about numbers. It’s about honoring those he lost and fighting for those still battling. “This initiative means a lot to me. It’s given me hope that we can make an impact against this devastating disease,” he shared. After losing so much, this mission is personal. And now, he’s making sure no one fights alone.
The post “All Deceased”: Udonis Haslem Emotionally Shares Impact of Suffering Huge Losses Unlike 17YO Son appeared first on EssentiallySports.