The NBA media musical chairs keep spinning, and longtime Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem is the latest analyst to join the ranks. According to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, ESPN is bringing Haslem on for the remainder of the NBA season after a successful trial run dating back to last year’s playoffs. He will be featured on the network’s daytime studio lineup, including roles on First Take, Get Up, and SportsCenter.
The so-called Mayor of Miami, who grew up in the area, won two national titles at the University of Florida and three championships with the Heat. Over his remarkable 20-season NBA career, Haslem transitioned from starting forward during the 2006 Finals to a role player as LeBron James modernized the team, eventually becoming a glorified assistant coach during the 2020 and 2023 Finals runs. Since his retirement, he has launched The OGs podcast at Playmaker alongside former Gators and Heat teammate Mike Miller, tapping into the South Florida hoops audience and scoring rare interviews with notable figures like Jason Williams and Bam Adebayo from the often overlooked sports city.
At ESPN, Haslem joins a crowded roster of NBA analysts, as the network evolves alongside NBC and Amazon, preparing for the launch of the league’s new broadcast rights package this fall. The announcing booth has been in flux over the past three years, with recent rumors connecting Richard Jefferson to Amazon. ESPN also laid off Zach Lowe in September while extending contracts for several top analysts leading into the 2024-25 season. Haslem will work alongside Jefferson, Chiney Ogwumike, Kendrick Perkins, Tim Legler, and veterans like Stephen A. Smith, Michael Wilbon, and Bob Myers. “UD” embodies the qualities of many of the network’s successful analysts as a well-respected role player with deep understanding of the league.
Like many new ESPN analysts, Haslem will gain experience on morning shows and SportsCenter before potentially advancing to NBA Today, NBA Countdown, game coverage, and other opportunities. McCarthy reports that ESPN may extend Haslem’s contract beyond this season if all goes well.
