ANT'S THE MAN
First Take analyst sitting in for Stephen A. Smith divides NBA fans with ‘heir to Michael Jordan’ claim on live TV
Stephen A. was a surprise absentee from Thursday's ESPN show
UDONIS Haslem has tipped Anthony Edwards to rebound from NBA playoff disappointment next season.
The ESPN analyst divided First Take viewers by comparing the Minnesota star to Michael Jordan during Thursday's show.
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Edwards led the Timberwolves in scoring, rebounds, and assists as they fell short in the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.
Miami Heat legend Haslem sat in for Stephen A. Smith on First Take and wasted no time in making his presence felt.
The 44-year-old claimed Edwards and the T-Wolves could use the "pain" of the Mavericks series to reach next year's Finals.
"Minnesota Timberwolves for me, and Ant-Man," Haslem replied after being asked his favorites in the West next season.
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"I am looking at those guys, and Ant-Man, who we are saying - is the closest thing to [Michael Jordan] both on and off the basketball court.
"When you look at what the Boston Celtics are talking about when they got the Championship this yea - the pain, the pain of the losses they've had in the last couple of years.
"Minnesota has felt that pain of the loss, they have felt the pain of the disappointment.
"If Ant-Man is truly, truly the heir to Michael Jordan, if he is truly that type of guy, that pain will drive him."
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"I like Minnesota to be in the Finals next year," he added.
"They will be driven and they will be up at night, sleepless, because of that pain of losing. That's what drives you."
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"Yeah absolutely if they kept their pieces next year," agreed one viewer on X.
"Ant man HAS NO COMPARE TO JORDAN," countered another.
"They losing to the grizzlies next year in rd 2. Bookmark it," countered a third.
"ESPN better hire UD full time," added a fourth.
"Minnesota just got jinxed," joked another.
First Take viewing figures
First Take went from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim last year.
The weekday ESPN debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 - making it the most-watched year in program history.
Its December average of 611,000 was a 24% year-on-year increase compared to 2022.
The show also reported 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.
Haslem, a three-time NBA champion, made his ESPN bow in May.
He spent 20 years in the league, all with the Miami Heat.
Haslem replaced an absent Stephen A. on Thursday with the veteran sportscaster "given a day off."
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Smith admitted during a live broadcast on Tuesday he was "tired as hell" following a grueling NBA schedule.
First Take airs every weekday on ESPN from 10 am ET.