NBA legend Udonis Haslem has channeled his inner Stephen A. Smith while replacing the First Take host. Three-time NBA champion Haslem, 44, filled in for Smith on both Thursday and Friday on the popular ESPN sports talk show .
On Friday, seated alongside host Molly Qerim in Smith 's usual spot, Haslem did his best impression of the 56-year-old. Asked for his take on which team in the NBA's Eastern Conference was the biggest threat to the reigning champions, the Boston Celtics , next season, Haslem's choice was unsurprising. He gestured to the cameras to focus on him, commenting "Bring that camera here.
Let me get that camera on me," in typical Smith fashion. Having spent 20 years as a member of the Miami Heat , where he now serves as the vice president of basketball development, Haslem emphatically backed 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 anybody ever say the Miami Heat?" he asked. "The last four or five years it's come down to the Miami Heat or the Boston Celtics. " Milwaukee [Bucks] snuck themselves in there, but it's come down to the Miami Heat of the Boston Celtics.
" Haslem later claimed that he believed, "A healthy Miami Heat is the team that can challenge Boston. "Cause we've done it the last four out of five years. I'm sick of this man.
" Clearly furious with the lack of belief in Miami from his co-hosts, Qerim.
