Udonis Haslem, if nothing else, has always been unapologetically candid. His outspoken, straightforward nature works well for television analysis.
That’s only one side of the man who played 20 seasons in the NBA, all with the Miami Heat. There’s a genuine nature in Haslem, now an NBA analyst for Prime Video, that builds trust with individuals young and old. Very kind — but still unadulterated.
“I’ve been able to straddle that line of being authentic, being honest and being able to give constructive criticism without throwing guys under the bus and trying to embarrass guys,” Haslem told The Athletic.
His latest rant took place late Friday night following Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals pitting the San Antonio Spurs against the Minnesota Timberwolves. With the Wolves trailing by 33 with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, Anthony Edwards during a timeout walked to the Spurs’ bench and shook hands with the coaching staff and players, one by one.
It was considered an unorthodox move by some, as it viewed Edwards conceding to the Spurs, who ultimately defeated the Wolves 139-109 and advanced to the Western Conference finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Following the game, Haslem and his fellow analysts on the “NBA on Prime” show took offense to Edwards dapping up the competition with so much game time still remaining.
“As a leader, I would not have walked down there and shook their hands,” Haslem said to the in-studio cast. “As a leader of my troops and my guys, I would not have shown that weakness. The game is not over. I’ve got eight minutes left. I still got smoke coming out my ears. … Let me calm down for those eight minutes since I’m not in, and then after those eight minutes, I’ll go down there, and I’ll congratulate them and their coaching staff.”
He continued: “In the middle of the game, when I got guys that have sat on the bench and cheered me on (going into the game for garbage time)? No, I’m gonna sit there and cheer those guys on. I’m gonna put that energy back into those guys, and then, when the game is over, I’ll go over there and shake their hand. That’s just the way I handle things. I’m a little bit different. I’m a little bit old-school. I understand there’s a different generation, but I don’t think if they were beating San Antonio, Wemby (Victor Wembanyama) would have shook his hand with eight minutes left.”
Speaking his mind has never been a problem for Haslem, but there’s a level of respect with the power forward-turned-broadcaster that comes with only a few individuals. He can say what’s on his mind and still command the respect and admiration of his peers and mentees.
It was partially for this reason that Haslem said former teammate Dwyane Wade suggested he try television after a lengthy NBA career. He is now finishing his first season with Prime Video and has previously worked for ESPN and NBA TV.
The first-year show was an opportunity for Haslem to be a part of something new — to bring his authenticity to the public.
“I can still be that OG, that mentor-type guy,” he said, “but I can still be an analyst and kind of tread in both of those lanes.”
Throughout the 2026 NBA playoffs, Haslem has been someone basketball fans are paying attention to for everything from educated analysis to hot takes to funny moments with his “NBA on Prime” colleagues. He breaks down strategy and connects with current roster players alongside fellow analysts and former NBA All-Stars, including 13-year veteran Blake Griffin and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash.
One memorable moment stretching from early March until early April further encapsulates Haslem. On the March 5 “NBA on Prime” show, Haslem criticized Los Angeles Lakers big Deandre Ayton, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA draft, for having a “loser mentality” after his comments comparing him and Houston Rockets reserve Clint Capela, who was once known for being a rim-running center with a high field goal percentage, but not considered as a primary offensive weapon.
The following month, Ayton was a postgame guest of the show following a Lakers win. Haslem immediately went from analyst to motivational speaker, offering words of encouragement to Ayton almost in a big brother role. The two hadn’t had many interactions before, but Ayton was willing to listen. And Haslem was happy to help.
“All these relationships I have with these different guys … we’re talking about different age groups, different eras,” said Haslem, who turns 46 in a little less than three weeks. “But there’s a mutual respect with all these guys, just because of the way I give respect.
“There’s just a version of me that always wants to see other people succeed and do well.”
Sports personality Jason Jackson, a media host and courtside reporter for the Heat, became friends during Haslem’s tenure in the NBA. The two had honest conversations — discussing pros and cons — about Haslem stepping into broadcasting. Jackson said the Ayton interview blended who Haslem was as a player and who he’s becoming as an analyst.
“I remember when (Haslem) first spoke to me about the idea of broadcasting, and I just had not considered that for him,” Jackson said. “He very much was trending, it felt like, toward coaching or evaluation at the very least. He basically was an extension of the coaching staff for half his career, so it just seemed natural.”
But Haslem tested the television waters, and he’s been a solid fit with the Prime Video show hosted by Taylor Rooks. Haslem jokingly refers to Rooks as “Gladys Knight” and the rest of the crew as “The Pips,” as she first organized a group chat before the season in an effort to build chemistry.
The “NBA on Prime” in-studio team feature host Taylor Rooks and analysts Udonis Haslem, Blake Griffin, Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash. (Phillip Faraone / Getty Images for Prime Video)
That camaraderie has helped Haslem build a new relationship with a former competitor he’s seen at the highest level. He and Nowitzki competed against each other in two heated NBA Finals. The Heat knocked off Nowitzki’s Dallas Mavericks in 2006, and the Mavs pulled off the upset of the favored Heat featuring LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Haslem in 2011.
“Me and Dirk, we’re the best of buddies,” Haslem said. “We probably couldn’t stand each other because we’re so much alike. I say this all the time: We’re the best of buddies, and we have to give credit to Taylor.”
Both Haslem and Nowitzki can talk about longevity in one city. They are two of the three players in NBA history to play 20 seasons with one team, the other being Kobe Bryant with the Lakers. Working with Haslem in television wasn’t an issue with Nowitzki, but he originally admitted he “didn’t know what to expect” because of their basketball history.
“Obviously, we had a long rivalry going and competed for a long, long time,” Nowitzki said. “But it’s been great getting to know him, working with him, being on the same team with him. He is a stand-up, honest guy. He always tells you how it is.
“Looking back now, I think we would have gotten along great if we were on the same team, or if we had different paths and our paths would have crossed sooner. I love some of the stuff that he stands for, and it’s been super fun getting to know him more, getting to work with him, the banter and, obviously, the trash talk. It has been a pleasure.”
Nowitzki said Haslem has “strong opinions” that match his morals and values. Hours before the Timberwolves commentary Friday evening, Haslem offered his thoughts on words postgame from Donovan Mitchell after the Cleveland Cavaliers missed an opportunity to end their series against the Detroit Pistons by losing Game 6 at home.
In a short diatribe, Haslem wanted Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson to give his players a different kind of lesson in accountability.
“Coach Atkinson needs to put some hot sauce in these boys’ water bottles,” Haslem said, a comment that received positive feedback from his Prime colleagues. “I’ve never seen a team come in with a chance to close out with less intent to finish. I’ve never seen a team come in with a close-out opportunity with less focus, with less intensity.
“Hell, Coach Atkinson needs to put some hot sauce in his water bottle, too. He ain’t holding nobody accountable.”
To Haslem, offering takes means providing fair critique. It’s bigger than basketball in some cases. He is very good at going off script with an extended variety of pop culture discussions, ranging from his favorite cartoons to his love for professional wrestling.
Haslem also is about having fun. He recently engaged with Indiana Pacers guard — and noted pro wrestling fan — Tyrese Haliburton, as they held a conversation about his top-five WWE stars. The stare that Nash gave as he listened was meme-worthy.
What allows Haslem to move the way he does is the appreciation he’s earned as someone getting accolades out of the mud. As a pro, he was undrafted out of Florida and chose to play a year in France. From there, a 6-foot-7, 300-pound Haslem lost more than 50 pounds and returned to the United States, earning a spot with the Heat. In 20 seasons, he’s been on teams that have been in the lottery and teams that won titles. He has three NBA championship rings from 2006, 2012 and 2013.
The Heat retired Haslem’s No. 40 jersey in January 2024. He was a key reserve as a rookie, then a starter for five seasons, then a key reserve again and finally a seldom-used reserve who still had the full respect of the locker room. That respect was evident as he was a team captain for his last 16 seasons — even though in those final eight seasons, he started a total of three games.
Udonis Haslem had his No. 40 Miami Heat jersey retired in January 2024. (Jasen Vinlove / USA Today)
Haslem’s career allowed him to see the evolution of players and their relationship with the media, which helped shape his approach to the game from a broadcaster’s perspective. Haslem remembers entering the league in 2003 when older players weren’t quick to extend olive branches to younger players, but with his toughness balancing out with his compassion to interact with players, he’s learned to be a voice as a mentor for the generations after him.
Haslem, additionally, is the Heat’s vice president of basketball development. The role involves Haslem working side by side with players and coaches and also allows him — a Miami native with the nicknames “Mr. Miami” and “Mr. 305” — to still work in the Miami-Dade County community.
“I’m relatable to your stars, relatable to your role players, to your guys that don’t get minutes. I’m relatable to your assistant coaches,” Haslem said. “Very few guys can have a conversation with the front office, with the coaching staff, and then go down to a locker room and then be trusted there, as well.”
To Jackson, the Ayton-Haslem interaction wasn’t surprising. If anything, in addition to showing Haslem’s nurturing side, Jackson called it a “battery-in-the-back conversation that we all got to watch in real time,” something that happens routinely but happened to be caught on a national stream.
“He’s probably had that conversation dozens, if not hundreds, of times in trying to lift his teammates throughout his years,” Jackson said of Haslem. “He’s just using that natural leadership, that natural message creation in his job now as a studio analyst.”
“It’s always the way you approach people,” Haslem added. “I always approach these guys with a respectful manner and in a way that I want the best out of them.”
When he’s not preparing for the Prime show, Haslem still likes to work out, and family time and staying connected with his South Florida community is important. Along with pro wrestling, he also enjoys animated series. Haslem is a fan of the Prime Video show “Invincible” and other shows that “immediately grab me from the jump and get straight to the point.”
Haslem also watches church on television, as traveling often keeps him on the road on Sundays. Haslem said he prays five to 10 minutes nightly, which assists in clearing his mind in how to best do his job and stay true to himself.
“I pray I will remain compassionate, always wanting to be thoughtful and always wanting to be honest,” Haslem said. “When I talk about the things I’m doing in this workspace, those are the things that I always want to make sure I live by. It’s a long list of things that I’m thankful for, and it’s a long list of things that I talk to the Lord about.
“But when I talk about work, those are the things that I talk about.”
As the playoffs resume, Haslem will continue being someone who will not only entertain fans but also keep them on their toes. And he’ll continue to be unabashed yet sincere with his efforts as an analyst.
Jackson said it’s not often to see someone who has the ability to entertain, inform and remain relatable like Haslem.
It’s the right ingredients for a prolonged future in broadcasting.
“I would love to spend nights around him if he can whittle it out of his time to come back to the crib and do some broadcasting with us from time to time. But that’s jealousy speaking,” Jackson said. “He doesn’t have a limit. His limit is what his time and his businesses and his family cost, that’s it.”
Haslem added: “Everybody respects my authenticity and understands I’m going to call it one way. Whether it’s with players, whether it’s with coaches, whether it’s with front offices, you’re going to get the truth — and it’s all once again coming from a good place.”