Udonis Haslem and Wife Faith Haslem's Journey: Navigating Parenthood After an Abortion in the Early 2000s

Udonis Haslem's wife, Faith Haslem, has been by the NBA star's side for over two decades. Although they had to make the difficult decision of having an abortion when they were financially struggling college students, the couple later welcomed two children and raised their blended family.

Before he became a three-time NBA championship-winning star, Udonis Haslem was a Miami native with a troubled past but a bright future. He has since become the glue at the Miami Heat team, and besides the late Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki, he is the only NBA player to spend his career of two decades with one franchise.

And one of the people who have been in his corner the entire time is his wife, Faith Haslem. After meeting in college, it took them over a decade to make it down the aisle. However, they have also spent over a decade happily married after overcoming hard times.

Udonis Haslem Has Been in a Relationship since the Early 2000s before Marriage

Born and raised in Miami, Udonis' skills on the basketball court landed him a sports scholarship to the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he met his future wife.

When they met, her attention was on the pit bull he had successfully hidden and was housing illegally in the dorm. While she thought the reserved and over 6-foot hooper was "cute and supper chill," he humorously admitted, "I had no idea if she even liked me." However, the stars were not aligned then, as they were dating other people.

A year later, their paths crossed again. However, it was still not the right time for them, as Faith was in a new relationship, and the basketball star was dealing with heartbreak.

Although he liked getting to the bottom of things, Udonis chose to brush off the situation with his ex, whom he saw daily. Instead, he got to know Faith, who he recalled admiring for her down-to-earth nature, and in turn, she said:

"I liked the way he spoke, especially about life on Miami streets...I was very attracted."

Conversations came easy for the young couple, and after joking that he would take her to Popeyes for their first date if she paid, Udonis and Faith grew closer over fried chicken and biscuits. Despite growing up on the rough Miami streets with a drug-addicted mother, Udonis revealed that Faith's background was intimidating.

Although they were from different worlds, it did not stop them from forming a bond. Udonis liked her intelligence and competitive edge, which fuelled her passion for winning. And Faith liked that he was an exciting "challenge" as she was used to men chasing her.

After their date, he called her and said, "I like you. I am feeling you." Even though she was over the moon, she was calm, hoping he would take the lead, and they spoke on the phone religiously from then on.

However, Udonis was hesitant about moving too fast as it left their friendship at risk. He could not help his feelings for the woman who would someday be his wife. The basketball player said:

"Faith was refreshing after the loud, confrontational, attention-seeking women I had known. She was bright and motivating and, as a jock, got what I do. But she was not easy to read."

After meeting in 1999, Faith and Udonis officially began dating in May 2001. And when they weren't attending to their athletic careers, they spent most of their free time together.

Udonis Haslem and Faith Rein Chose to Have an Abortion

In the spring of 2002, Udonis and Faith found themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place when she became pregnant as a junior, and he was a senior. Like Udonis, Faith was on an athletic scholarship, and besides their careers, the young couple could not financially care for a child.

Udonis already had a son, Kedonis, whom he welcomed during high school from a previous relationship and struggled to pay child support. Although the NBA star admitted to not being "a huge fan of abortion," it was their only option.

The couple mutually acknowledged that the timing was unfavorable and aborted the pregnancy. Faith revealed the difficult situation shed light on Udonis' character, as she said:

"Udonis appreciated that I was willing to have an abortion. I found him caring, supportive, nurturing, and all over me to be sure I was O.K. I saw another side of him during that difficult time and fell deeply in love. He had a big heart and was the whole package."

Udonis Haslem and Faith Rein Embrace Parenthood and Find Happiness Together

In 2013, the couple tied the knot after their fair share of trials and tribulations—including Udonis dropping out of college to pursue his dream of being drafted. "She proved to be a strong family person and has helped me through rough times. She deserved to be happy..." Udonis said about his wife.

The couple's union has since been blessed with two sons. Their eldest son together, Josiah, was born in January 2007, and they later had their last son, Elijah. The Miami Heat player often takes to Instagram to share pictures of his blended family, revealing that family comes first for him.

Faith also proved the Haslems are the picture of a happy family as she often captures precious moments like pictures of her sons or as they smile during the holiday season. Additionally, she shares heartwarming snapshots of her and Udonis, such as on his birthday in 2022.

Unlike his famous dad—who has played alongside Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, and Meyers Leonard—Kedonis pursues a career as a football player and documents his athletic journey on his Instagram account.

Josiah did not follow in his father's shoes but caught the baseball bug. He also shares glimpses of his life on social media, including celebrating his loved ones on special occasions.