Miami Heat icon Udonis Haslem recently reminisced about a memorable moment involving former teammate Goran Dragic, revealing his admiration for the guard’s grit.
During a game, Dragic had his tooth knocked out, prompting him to take an unusual course of action. “This m———– got his tooth knocked out — was it Atlanta?” Haslem recalled, setting the stage for the anecdote.
Dragic recounted the incident, revealing that it occurred during games against Atlanta and Detroit. In the heat of the moment, frustrated by a missed foul call, Dragic did something unexpected—he threw his tooth at the referee.
Haslem humorously chimed in, expressing his immediate admiration for Dragic’s audacity. “This m———– threw his tooth at the ref. That’s when I said, ‘I like this m———–.’ I was like, ‘I like this m———–. This m———–‘s a goon.’”
Their camaraderie extended beyond this memorable incident. Both players shared the court for multiple seasons, contributing to the Heat’s journey to the NBA Finals in the 2019-20 season.
Dragic’s tenure with the Heat, spanning from the 2014-15 season to 2020-21, saw him earn an All-Star nod and solidify his reputation as a resilient player. His stats underscore his impact, averaging 16.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game.
Meanwhile, Haslem, a Heat lifer, clinched three NBA titles with the franchise, cementing his legacy as a revered leader in the locker room.
Despite their different paths, Haslem’s endorsement of Dragic reflects the mutual respect and bond forged during their time together in Miami. As they transition into retirement, they can look back fondly on Dragic’s tooth-throwing escapade as just one of many memorable moments from their NBA careers.
