{"id":1569890,"date":"2023-06-01T15:07:55","date_gmt":"2023-06-01T19:07:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1569890"},"modified":"2023-06-01T15:07:56","modified_gmt":"2023-06-01T19:07:56","slug":"2023-nba-finals-how-many-undrafted-players-do-miami-heat-have-roster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/2023-nba-finals-how-many-undrafted-players-do-miami-heat-have-roster\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 NBA Finals: How Many Undrafted Players Do the Miami Heat Have on Their Roster?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After winning a decisive Game 7 against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Miami Heat<\/a> find themselves back in the NBA Finals for the first time since losing to LeBron James and the LA Lakers in the Orlando bubble in 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year's matchup against two-time NBA MVP<\/a> Nikola Jokic and the top-seeded Denver Nuggets marks the seventh Finals appearance for the Heat, who've gone 3-3 in their previous six. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But this roster is nothing like we've ever seen from Miami. Truth be told, this is one of the more unique rosters in NBA Finals history. Sure, they've got plenty of star power and notable names in Jimmy Butler<\/a>, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry, and Kevin Love. (We'd certainly include Victor Oladipo if he were healthy for this series.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the Heat also have plenty of names the casual NBA<\/a> fan wouldn't recognize at all. In fact, Miami has seven players on their Finals roster that went undrafted. That's certainly not typical for any NBA team — let alone one that's competing for the richest prize in the game. It should also be noted that there were another two (Jamal Cain, Orlando Robinson) who helped the Heat get to this point but weren't eligible to play in the postseason as they played on two-way contracts this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here's a quick look at those (in alphabetical order) who never heard their name called on NBA Draft night and how they made their way to South Beach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Udonis Haslem<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n

Udonis Haslem has had an incredible career.

\u2022 Undrafted in 2002
\u2022 Spent a year in France
\u2022 Lost 50lbs in 8 months
\u2022 Signed with Heat in 2003
\u2022 3x NBA Champ
\u2022 $70 million in earnings

And now, in his 20th year with the Heat, Haslem will try to win his 4th NBA Championship.
pic.twitter.com\/pU2hRRDjJa<\/a><\/p>— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) May 31, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>