Udonis Haslem reveals LeBron James is surprisingly frugal

Udonis Haslem called LeBron James surprisingly frugal during a recent conversation.

The two were teammates for four years on the Miami Heat superteam from 2010 to 2014.

They played alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

That was enough time to know each other's habits inside out.

NBA teammates often develop a brotherly bond over several seasons.

In their case, that meant at least one Finals appearance every year.

By that point, each teammate knows everything about the other.

Family, character, preferences, habits.

One of those habits involves spending time together on long road trips.

Teammates hang out, eat dinner, or just relax.

Most of the time, those meet-ups affect everyone's wallet.

NBA players have one of the biggest cultural and financial influences in sports.

They aren't settling for anything less than luxury.

But for LeBron James, money is a different story.

He is the first active NBA player to reach billionaire status.

He is also one of the richest athletes in the world.

Yet he is known to be hesitant when it comes to spending.

Haslem learned this over years of knowing LBJ.

"[Frugal] is the word I probably should have used for Bron," said Haslem.

"He a little frugal."

"What? Bron ain't spending no money like that."

"We like to use the word frugal."

"But when we get off-camera, we gon' say cheap."

Haslem was not the first Heat alum to point this out.

Dwyane Wade previously called James the "cheapest guy in the NBA."

This was despite James being one of the highest-earning players in the league.

Wade's wife, Gabrielle Union, backed up his claims.

She said LeBron is so cheap he refuses to turn on his data while overseas on a yacht.

Once that news broke, another former teammate confirmed it.

Kevin Love also backed up Wade's claims about James's frugal Wi-Fi habits.

"Oh, yeah, I've seen that a million times in Toronto," Love said.

"They talk about wealth and all that, like, sometimes it's the things you don't see."

"And for him, it's like, if we're in Toronto, right?"

"That drive from the airport and going through customs to then getting to our hotel, yeah, there's no data used at all."

"He's waiting for the Wi-Fi all the time."

Love added that he can appreciate the habit.

"I gotta say it's not like I'm mad at it, but I'm like, 'C'mon, Bron, like, seriously? It's Wi-Fi.'"

"Maybe it's good to get away from your phone for a minute."

James's frugality has become a running joke among his former teammates.

But it also reveals something about his mindset.

He built his wealth through NBA salaries, endorsements, and business ventures.

His net worth is estimated at over $1 billion.

Yet he still hesitates to spend on small things like mobile data.

Some see it as discipline.

Others see it as being cheap.

Haslem's comment adds a new layer to the public perception of LeBron James.

Fans often see the flashy cars, the custom suits, the business empire.

But behind the scenes, James is reportedly careful with every dollar.

This is not a new story in the NBA.

Many wealthy athletes have been known for frugal habits.

But for a billionaire to skip data charges is unusual.

It raises questions about what else James might be saving on.

The story also highlights the bond between Haslem and James.

They spent four seasons together in Miami.

They won two championships.

Haslem knows James as well as anyone outside his family.

His word carries weight in NBA circles.

When he calls James frugal, people listen.