NBA icon Kobe Bryant might be shaking his head proudly in heaven right now after Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo scored 83 points against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.
Adebayo surpassed Bryant's 81 points for the second-highest scoring output in league history, and trailed only NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain's 100 points. The Heat edged the Wizards, 150–129.
In the post-game conference, Adebayo looked on in disbelief at what he had accomplished, especially since he beat his childhood hero's record. He said She is curious If Bryant were alive today, what would he say about his 83-point accomplishment?
"For me, it's a wonder what he would say. Seeing someone (score) 60, 70, but 83 and passing him, I'm like, 'What would he say to me?' Because I always wanted to talk to him. But he'd probably tell me, 'Do it again,'" Adebayo shared, who was seated next to his girlfriend, Las Vegas Access center A'ja Wilson.
"It's a surreal moment to be in the company of someone I idolized growing up."
"Wondering what he (Bryant) would say... I've always wanted to have a conversation with him, but he'd probably tell me 'Do it again.'"
What Bam Adebayo thinks Kobe Bryant would have told him 🗣
(via @ZachWeinberger) pic.twitter.com/pCZzNpueaF
- ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 11 March 2026
Wilson agreed with Adebayo's comment that Bryant would have urged him to go for the record again. Many thought Bryant's 81 points would never be broken, but Adebayo did. So why not 100 points for Chamberlain?
Bryant was a frantic competitor and for him there was no record he could not achieve. Other athletes also shared his mentality and were very proud of it.
While Adebayo will never know how Bryant would react to his 81-point performance, he can take solace in the fact that he remained consistent with the mindset of his childhood idol.
