A Heat legend gets real about how he feels about the team’s start to the 2026-27 season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Miami Heat are one of the most interesting teams to follow at the start of the 2026-27 NBA season. They were hyped up as one of the teams on the rise in the Eastern Conference because they pulled off a trade to bring in Giannis Antetokounmpo to the fold.
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It was a massive move for the Heat that immediately boosted their chances of success. However, it has not paid off so far because Antetokounmpo is playing well, but the rest of the team is not keeping up with him. That has led to a slow start with a 4-6 record, but it seems they are headed in the right direction with recent performances.
Udonis Haslem gives the Heat a reality check about the slow start
As one of the most iconic Heat players in the franchise’s history, Udonis Haslem always wants what’s best for the team. He is not too happy with what is happening in Miami at the moment, but there is some light at the end of the tunnel with what they have shown as of late.
However, Haslem is known to be quite vocal, and he is being realistic with the current team. He wants them to perform better, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Considering the Heat’s system needs players to be fully bought in, Haslem is urging the players to play the Heat way.
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MORE: Erik Spoelstra wants the Heat to be motivated by the media pressure amid a slow start to the season
“A cluttered mind equals slow feet and bad decisions. There’s clutter right now. The defense. Our defense is very demanding. It’s not easy. We’re not known for doing things the easy way. Different organizations like to work smarter; we like to work harder. It might not be the easiest way, but it’s the Heat way. That is how we do. So you have to 100% buy in,” Haslem said on the Time Out with Dwyane Wade podcast.
He is making some valid points because the Heat are not looking cohesive. They have the talent to keep up with any team in the league, but they are not playing as well as they can. The potential is there, but they need to buy into Spoelstra’s system and properly show why they are a top team on both ends of the floor.
At the same time, Haslem is also demanding much more from Bam Adebayo. While Antetokounmpo is now the star player, Adebayo still has plenty of responsibilities. Haslem thinks that his former protege is thinking too much like Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid, when he could just play like himself to be effective.
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“You’re an effort and energy guy that has All-Star talent. You’re not Joel Embiid. Joel Embiid can go out there on one knee and get 30. You’ve got to bring that every night,” Haslem also said on the podcast with D-Wade.
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