ESPN has taken the advice of Magic Johnson—and hired Udonis Haslem as a full-time analyst for its NBA coverage.
The 44-year-old has signed a one-year contract to appear on studio shows such as NBA Today, Stephen A. Smith’s First Take, Mike Greenberg’s Get Up, and SportsCenter for the rest of this season, ESPN confirmed. The ex-Heat power forward has been appearing on its air for the last month or so. The deal could extend beyond, say sources.
During ESPN’s coverage of the 2024 NBA playoffs, Haslem was so impressive as a guest analyst on First Take and Get Up that Johnson called on the four letters to sign him to a full-time gig.
“ESPN – You definitely have an excellent team of ex-players already with Kendrick Perkins, Jay Williams, Tim Legler, and JJ Reddick [sic]…but you should hire Udonis Haslem permanently!” Johnson tweeted last May. “He’s been spectacular at breaking down the NBA playoffs – from the players’ game and mentality, to the x’s and o’s, as well as the philosophy of the game…Udonis has done it with intelligence, charisma, and flair. And he’s funny too!”
The Miami native won three NBA championships during his 20-year career with the Heat. After retiring in 2023, he took a front office job with his hometown franchise.
Haslem marks the latest name in the hiring competition for NBA TV talent between incumbent ABC/ESPN and incoming rights partners NBC Sports and Amazon Prime Video.
My colleague Ryan Glasspiegel reported Wednesday that NBC was hiring Reggie Miller of TNT Sports to serve as one of its top game analysts starting with the 2025–2026 season. Earlier this month, NBC tapped Jamal Crawford for a game analyst role as it prepares to return to NBA game coverage for the first time since the “Roundball Rock” glory days of the 1990s. Miller and Crawford will rotate as NBC’s top game analyst, working with play-by-play announcers Mike Tirico and Noah Eagle. After auditioning for NBC during the Paris Olympics, don’t be surprised if Dwyane Wade joins the network’s hoops coverage.
Meanwhile, Amazon has signed Taylor Rooks, Blake Griffin, and Dirk Nowitzki to lead its studio coverage from Los Angeles next season. The streamer has also been in talks with former Knick Carmelo Anthony. Warriors star Draymond Green could also become a sought-after free agent once he retires.
As one source tells me: “It’s a great time to be an NBA TV talent.”
After swinging a deal to license Charles Barkley’s Inside the NBA from TNT Sports, ESPN bosses Jimmy Pitaro and Burke Magnus have been replenishing the network’s bench. ESPN hired Shams Charania to replace the retired Adrian Wojnarowski as the NBA’s top insider. It extended the contracts of Kendrick Perkins, Monica McNutt, Tim Legler, Chiney Ogwumike, and Bobby Marks. It also hired ESPN NBA writer Michael C. Wright to cover Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs’ 21-year-old French phenom, in San Antonio. But last June, Redick gave up his gig as ABC/ESPN’s lead game analyst to coach the Lakers. It remains to be seen whether ESPN will continue with its two-person team of Mike Breen and Doris Burke for its top ABC/ESPN announcing team, or add Richard Jefferson to the mix as part of a three-person team.
