MIAMI – Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo scored 83 points Tuesday night to surpass Kobe Bryant's 81 for the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, no doubt polarizing reactions. While the 83 points scored by the Heat's face of the franchise in Adebayo was labeled "unethical" by some in the sports world, the star himself has hit back at some of the talking points.
Those online who have questioned the ethics of the 83-point game have pointed to the 43 free-throw attempts by Adebayo or Miami intentionally committing fouls and missing free throws to save time or gain more possessions. Some have even said that Adebayo should have checked before passing Bryant to show respect.
"I'm like, 'Listen, I'm a Kobe fan. I got close to his record. What do you think I'm going to do? Try to break it?' I'm pretty sure if I had 81 and Kobe was on his way, he wouldn't be like, 'You know, I'm going to check myself out with nine minutes left, but I got 70.' Stay serious,'' Adebayo said after Thursday's 112-105 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Bam Adebayo explains why he wasn't surprised by the reaction to scoring 83 and being a Kobe Bryant fan; #HeatNation
"I'm pretty sure if I had 81 and Kobe was on his way, he wouldn't be like 'I'm gonna check myself out with nine minutes left, but I got 70.' Be serious." pic.twitter.com/pOdFxSlza7
- Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 13 March 2026
Heat's Bam Adebayo on his "pinch-me moment"
Whether people debate whether or not the Heat star's 83-point night was unethical, no one can take that moment away from the 28-year-old. Adebayo will delve into how it's been a "pinch-me moment" since Tuesday night's historic game.
"The last 48 hours, it's kind of...I'm surprised by myself," Adebayo said after recording 21 points and eight rebounds in a win over Milwaukee on Thursday. "Because someone will ask, 'What's my career at the highest level?' You are 83 years old. And it's not like the YMCA, this is the highest level of basketball...it's still a happy moment for me. And, as Kobe said, 'You've got to stay in shape. You have to have a lot of stamina, stay in shape and really grab it.' And I understand it now, because the next game is what you have to worry about.”
Bam Adebayo talks more about what made him more profitable is that he not only scored 83 points but his name is also included among the NBA greats. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/3tjj2TpbAS
- Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 13 March 2026
At any rate, Adebayo and Miami will now look to extend their seven-game winning streak against the Orlando Magic on Saturday.
