Regardless of how you feel about Bam Adebayo's performance against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night, he still recorded 83 points, the second-highest scoring game by a player in NBA history. It was an incredible moment and accomplishment for Adebayo and the Miami Heat, which is why many, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, will be paying tribute to the Heat star.
Because he was also playing well on Tuesday night, Giannis wasn't really able to see live what was happening in South Beach on Tuesday night, when Adebayo passed Kobe Bryant's 81-point mark and fell behind only Wilt Chamberlain on the all-time single-game scoring list. However, Antetokounmpo wants everyone to stop and appreciate what really happened.
More importantly, Giannis doesn't want the stigma against Adebayo to continue.
"Unbelievable. Incredible. Says a lot about his hard work. I haven't watched the game. I have to watch the game and see," Antetokounmpo said of Adebayo's 83-point game after the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Phoenix Suns 129-114. "It doesn't matter how you got it. It just means that you got it."
"In 10, 20, 30 years from now, no one is going to remember how many free throws he shot. I don't think I remember how many shots Kobe made, or how many free throws he made, or three. You just remember 81, 100. You don't remember that, you know?"
"It doesn't matter how you got there... 30 years from now, no one will remember how many free throws he shot... At the end of the day, he got 83 points."
Giannis at Bam Adebayo's big night last night.
(via @box)pic.twitter.com/Vjku27KiUl
- ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 11 March 2026
Unlike some players who used their platform to criticize Adebayo's performance due to his free throws and hunting shots at the end of the game, Giannis Baum can't respect what he did enough.
Although they may play on different teams and compete against each other in the Eastern Conference, what many people don't know is that Antetokounmpo and Adebayo have a close relationship with each other. These two NBA All-Stars share the same agent, and they have great respect for each other.
That's why Giannis Adebayo couldn't be happier and he won't tolerate any infamy coming his way.
Antetokounmpo added, "I know his family, his close friends, are extremely excited and happy for him." "And again, it speaks volumes about his hard work. I know Bam. He works hard every day. He never cheats the game. And to see a guy like him do something like that is incredible."
Interestingly enough, Adebayo and Antetokounmpo will be playing against each other on Thursday, which will be Bam's first game after creating history with his 83-point performance.
While Giannis will be celebrating Adebayo's accomplishment and congratulating him on the accomplishment, the Bucks star sent a humorous message to his friend in Miami ahead of this matchup.
“He’s going to score 82,” Giannis said with a smile. “So, we try our best for him to score 82, not 83.”
