The NBA media musical chairs keep spinning, and longtime Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem is the latest analyst to board it.
According to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, ESPN is hiring Haslem for the remainder of the NBA season after a successful trial run dating back to last year’s playoffs. Haslem will reportedly appear on the network’s daytime studio lineup, with roles on First Take, Get Up and SportsCenter.
The so-called Mayor of Miami grew up in the area before winning two national titles at the University of Florida and three championships with the Heat. Haslem played a remarkable 20 seasons in the NBA through age 42, transitioning from starting forward during the team’s 2006 Finals run to a role player as LeBron James pulled the team into the modern era and ultimately a glorified assistant coach in his later years during the 2020 and 2023 Finals runs.
Since retiring, Haslem launched The OGs podcast at Playmaker with former Gators and Heat teammate Mike Miller. The show taps into the South Florida hoops audience, scoring rare interviews with Jason Williams and Bam Adebayo from the largely overlooked sports city.
At ESPN, Haslem joins a crowded roster of NBA analysts that is evolving as NBC and Amazon staff their broadcasting rosters ahead of the start of the league’s new broadcast rights package this fall. The top announcing booth has been its own carousel over the past three years at the Worldwide Leader, with the latest rumors connecting Richard Jefferson to Amazon.
In the studio, ESPN laid off Zach Lowe in September before handing out extensions to many top analysts heading into the 2024-25 season. Haslem joins Jefferson, Chiney Ogwumike, Kendrick Perkins and Tim Legler as well as veterans Stephen A. Smith, Michael Wilbon and Bob Myers. “UD” fits the bill of many of the network’s most successful analysts as a well-respected longtime role player who deeply understands the league.
Like many rookie ESPNers, Haslem will get reps in the structure of the morning shows and SportsCenter before potentially leveling up to NBA Today, NBA Countdown game coverage, and other opportunities.
McCarthy reports ESPN could extend Haslem’s deal beyond this season if all goes well.
About Brendon Kleen
Brendon is a Media Commentary staff writer at Awful Announcing. He has also covered basketball and sports business at Front Office Sports, SB Nation, Uproxx and more.