NBA legend Udonis Haslem channeled his inner Stephen A. Smith as he filled in for the First Take host.
Haslem, 44, a three-time NBA champion, replaced Smith on Thursday and Friday on ESPN’s popular sports talk show.
4
4
On Friday, sitting next to host Molly Qerim in Smith’s usual spot, Haslem gave his best impression of the 56-year-old.
Asked which NBA Eastern Conference team would be the biggest threat to the defending champion Boston Celtics next season, Haslem’s choice was not surprising.
He gestured for the cameras to focus on him, commenting “Bring that camera here. Let me put that camera on me,” in typical Smith style.
Having spent 20 years as a member of the Miami Heat, where he now serves as vice president of basketball development, Haslem has emphatically supported his team to challenge Boston in 2024.
“Duncan Robinson, Terry Rozier, Jimmy Butler, a young superstar in Bam Adebayo, a young superstar in Tyler Herro, Jaime Jazquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, why doesn’t anyone ever say Miami Heat?” he asked.
“The last four or five years, it’s all been about the Miami Heat or the Boston Celtics.
“Milwaukee [Bucks] they got in there, but it all came down to the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics.”
Haslem later stated that he believed, “A healthy Miami Heat is the team that can challenge Boston.
“Because we’ve done this for the last four of five years. I’m sick of this man.”
Clearly furious at his Miami co-hosts’ lack of trust, Qerim explained that the uncertainty stemmed from a lack of clarity surrounding Butler’s future.
However, Haslem quickly closed the matter, explaining: “You didn’t hear us say he was going anywhere.
“You’re saying he’s going somewhere.”
Butler remains under contract with Miami through the 2024-2025 season, with a player option for the following year.
As for Haslem’s opinion, viewers of X, formerly known as Twitter, were apparently divided.
“I wouldn’t be surprised. I really don’t think it will be the Knicks,” one wrote.
First look at the numbers
First Take has grown from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim over the past year.
ESPN’s weekday debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 — making it the most-watched year in the show’s history.
Its December average of 611,000 represented a 24% annual increase compared to 2022.
The show has also recorded more than 250 million views on YouTube.
First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports’ Undisputed.
“If it’s someone other than Miami, it could be Milwaukee and that’s even an exaggeration.”
A second commented: “Boy @ThisIsUD prepared hell for them guys.”
As another added: “The Celtics are 7-1 against Miami this season. I support your team, but UD is talking crazy.”
While a fourth said: “They say Miami every year.
Miami finished the 2024 season ranked eighth in the East before falling in the first round of the playoffs to Boston.
4
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
