"I couldn't just leave her and go to Dallas" - Udonis Haslem said he stayed with the Heat to care for his sick mom

Sometimes, family truly comes first. A great example of this is Udonis Haslem 's choice during the 2010 NBA offseason. The forward had some appealing offers on the table, particularly from the Mavericks , as he later shared.

However, U.D. ultimately opted for the comparatively lower offer from his original team, the Miami Heat. His decision was primarily driven by a desire to care for his seriously ill mother.

"Yeah, the Mavs' offer was tough to turn down, but I really wanted to stay home. I couldn't just leave her (his mom) and go to Dallas," explained Haslem, per the NY Post.

A mother's struggle

Haslem, who hails from Miami, was born in 1980 to his mother, Debra. However, as he grew up, his mother's presence in his life was not consistent. Debra, of Puerto Rican descent, had simply too much to handle herself, struggling with drug addiction and homelessness.

Reflecting on a difficult time in her life, she confided in Udonis about her cocaine addiction. Debra often roamed the streets with his picture in her pocket, praying through tears for the strength to overcome her struggles. Her turning point finally came when she moved in with Haslem. At the same time, he was a Gator at the University of Florida.

However, just a few years later, in 2009, tragedy struck again when Ms. Haslem was diagnosed with a tumor around her urethra, necessitating surgery. This hardship strengthened the bond between the mother and her son, still facing physical challenges. The former NBA player remained by her side as much as possible and eagerly awaited health updates during road trips.

U.D had to let his mother go

At that time, Haslem was also considering free agency. The 2006 NBA champ had spent seven years with the Heat , but now, besides the Mavericks, the Nuggets were interested in signing the 6'8" forward.

However, the choice became clear when his star teammates, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, agreed to pay cuts to accommodate him. After re-signing, U.D. hurried home to share the news with his mom, marking a bittersweet moment.

"It was the last time I saw her smile," Udonis remembered.

Tragically, Debra passed away shortly after following her son's heart-wrenching decision to take her off life support.

"Selfishly, I didn't want to let go. But it wasn't fair for her to suffer any longer. She couldn't breathe, and she couldn't think," he explained.

To honor his mother's memory, the Heat's legendary No. 40 now has a tattoo of her name just below his right collarbone.

"Everybody has tragedy in their lives," U.D. reflected. "And I'm not different than anyone else. But I also feel very blessed."

Despite the heartbreak, the 44-year-old must have felt that sense of blessing when the Heat, his one and only NBA franchise, won the championship title again in 2012 and 2013. Staying with the team was certainly the right choice from a sports standpoint and even more so from a family perspective.

Related: "I want you to address them by their names" - When Pat Riley gave a piece of unique advice to Udonis Haslem