The NBA has become a younger league every year.
Teams are hesitant to take players after two or three seasons in college, and 21-year-olds often fall late in the draft because of their so-called lack of upside.
That has also changed the way GMs build their rosters nowadays.
Teams no longer want to bring in experienced players and veterans, mostly because they cannot endure the physical demands of an 82-game season.
Notably, that hasn’t been the case with the Miami Heat and Udonis Haslem.
Haslem hasn’t been an impactful player on the court for more than a decade, and he was far from a star even when he was in his prime.
But he’s become an institution of the organization, an extension of the coach in the locker room, and a respected veteran even among the veterans.
That’s why Damian Lillard believes every single team in the NBA should strive to have a guy like him in their locker room, citing that the players respect and listen to what a guy like him has to say.
Damian Lillard says every team needs a player like Udonis Haslem in their locker room
“He got a presence with these dudes, what he says means something.”
(Via @OldManAndThree https://t.co/6JSZAGWkfz) pic.twitter.com/iHKPW2ve3w
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) March 15, 2023
Of course, some might argue that Haslem should just retire, become an assistant coach, and free up a roster spot for a guy who could actually play, and they would also have a valid point.
But the fact of the matter is that young players need veterans to teach them the ropes, perks, and demands of the NBA lifestyle, which goes way beyond the Xs and Os or bulking up in the gym.
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