標籤: Adebayos

Bam Adebayo hails Las Vegas as “second home” As NBA expansion discussions heated up this week, the NBA is moving forward with plans to add franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle.

According to ESPN, the NBA Board of Governors has approved a vote to formally begin exploring expansion in the two markets, an important step toward potential league growth. Shortly after the news, Adebayo spoke with reporters about the possibility of playing in Las Vegas.

“If I get a chance to play in Vegas, I get to go to my second home a little bit, so that will be nice.”

Adebayo’s ties to Las Vegas extend beyond basketball. He has been in a relationship with A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces for over a year, which has linked him to the city that has become a growing hub for professional sports.

When asked if Las Vegas could support an NBA team the same way fans support the Aces, Adebayo pointed to the unparalleled loyalty already established within the WNBA fanbase.

“I can see them supporting me like that. I don’t know about any other team. It’s a good thing because the Aces fans are really true to the Aces, so I don’t know how it’s going to happen. If they start winning like the Aces, maybe.”

Bam Adebayo on the opportunity to play in Las Vegas and whether Aces fans will support the NBA team 👀

“If I get a chance to play in Vegas and get a chance to visit my other home a little bit, that would be cool. I can see them supporting me like that. I don’t know about any other team. It’s a fine line… https://t.co/0ada2DmLdX pic.twitter.com/IheTXV2g0Q

– Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) 25 March 2026

Bam Adebayo’s arrival in Las Vegas leads to Heat’s climb up the East standings

Buoyed by the success of hosting the NBA Summer League and recent NBA Cup championship events, Las Vegas has emerged as a leading candidate for expansion along with Seattle. The city has also demonstrated strong support for other major franchises in the NFL, NHL and WNBA.

For now, Adebayo’s focus remains on the Miami Heat and their effort to build momentum heading into the season. Miami currently sits in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings at 38-34 after a five-game losing streak, including a 136-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday.

The 28-year-old continues to power the Heat on both ends of the floor as the team tries to climb the Eastern Conference standings. Miami is 2.5 games behind the fifth-seeded Toronto Raptors (40-31).

Miami begins a two-game road trip against the Cleveland Cavaliers (45-27) on Wednesday at 7:30 PM ET and then face them on Friday night at 7:30 PM ET on NBA TV.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. recently shared why he thinks he needs to surpass Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo’s 83-point performance, pointing to Kobe Bryant’s legacy as a major inspiration.

Porter Jr. made the comments while reacting to Adebayo’s historic run during a recent livestream.

“I’m trying to drop 80 [points]. shout out kobe [Bryant]Shout out to Bam because I’m definitely beating him one day. Now that Kobe has lost, I have to defeat Bam to honor Kobe.”

Adebayo’s 83-point game is now the second-highest scoring performance in NBA history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game and surpassing Bryant’s iconic 81-point performance with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2006.

The 25-year-old Porter Jr. is currently in his sixth NBA season and his first full campaign with Milwaukee, where he has taken on an expanded role in the backcourt. Through 38 games, including 36 starts, he has averaged 17.4 points, a career-high 7.4 assists, 5.2 rebounds and a career-high 2.2 steals per game, while shooting 46.5% from the field, 32.2% from three-point range and a career-high 87.8% from the free-throw line in 33.2 minutes per contest.

Kevin Porter Jr. tells Desha Frost in a chat that he’s trying to beat Bam Adebayo’s 83 points out of respect for Kobe Bryant.

“Now that Kobe has lost, I have to defeat Bam to honor Kobe” pic.twitter.com/at8sib0l11

– FearedBuck (@FearedBuck) 25 March 2026

Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. eyes points from Bam Adebayo, Kobe Bryant

The surge in Porter Jr.’s scoring has already been evident in his career. The highest performance of his career came during the 2020–21 season with the Houston Rockets, when he recorded 50 points, 11 assists, and five rebounds in a matchup against the Bucks in late April. In that game, he shot 16 of 26 from the field, 9 of 15 from three-point range, and 9 of 11 from the free-throw line in 41 minutes.

Adebayo’s performance has sparked league-wide discussion regarding milestones achieved and the pursuit of records, with players and analysts reflecting on the circumstances surrounding the historic night. However, Porter Jr. remains focused on competing and respecting the standard set by Bryant.

Milwaukee is coming off a challenging season, entering the finals with a 29–42 record and 11th in the Eastern Conference standings. Despite the team’s struggles, Porter Jr.’s individual production has been a bright spot as the Bucks look toward the future.

The Bucks are set to conclude their four-game road trip with a matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers (36-37) on Wednesday night at 10:00 PM ET. Milwaukee is entering the contest coming off a 129-96 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night.

As the season ends, Porter Jr.’s comments reflect his confidence and the broader impact of Adebayo’s historic performance, which continues to resonate throughout the league.

MIAMI – As the Miami Heat make a push for the 2026 NBA Playoffs, the team is currently trending in a negative direction, tied with five consecutive losses following Monday’s 136-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. As the Heat and Bam Adebayo are unable to overcome Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, the team captain will keep it real even after the loss.

Wembanyama finished with 26 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks, leading San Antonio to an impressive win on both sides of the ball, outclassing Miami from the start. There came a time when frustration grew for the Heat as Adebayo and head coach Erik Spoelstra were teasing each other after the star was out.

As Adebayo’s minutes seemed to mirror Wembanyama’s, as Spoelstra inserted Kel’El Ware into relief as the Spurs star was relieved, the Miami big man’s competitive edge came to the fore. Now in the midst of a five-game losing streak, Adebayo would chime in on the heated exchange with Spoelstra, including his NSFW reaction to not wanting to attend the play-in tournament for the fourth consecutive season.

“I mean, he’s been watching what I’ve been doing the last number of games,” Adebayo said while recording 18 points (5-17 FG, 2-10 from deep) with four assists and three rebounds. “I don’t want to be in the play-in. So some of it is, yes, he has to save me from myself, but at the same time, I don’t want to be in the play-in. So every game, I’m going to try to go out there and do my best to push this team and force us out of this.”

Bam Adebayo barked back and forth with Erik Spoelstra from the beginning:

“Some of it is that he has to protect me from myself, but at the same time, I don’t want to be in the f**king play-in…”

Full response: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/gxHj4gxPVh

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra ‘barking’ at him and Bam Adebayo at each other

While the Heat weren’t able to maintain their identity in the loss to the Spurs, it started with the defense, as the team struggled on the boards, getting out-rebounded 62-38 in addition to giving up 136 points. San Antonio also won the second-chance points battle 25–6, and excelled in the paint, scoring 60 in that area compared to Miami’s 40.

Adebayo played a stellar 45 minutes in Saturday’s loss to the Houston Rockets, but that was unlikely to be the case on Monday, as Spoelstra said he liked Adebayo’s competitive nature.

“He and I were barking at each other. That’s why I love him. I think he loves me,” Spoelstra said, laughing. “But even if he doesn’t, I’ve still got to do what’s best for the team. You know, I don’t want to play him 24 minutes in a row every half. If I’m forced to do it like Houston did, I’ll do it. But it’s the first half. I didn’t think it was necessary, you know. So some minutes, yes, most of the minutes are matchup ones. But it shouldn’t be all the minutes for us.”

Erik Spoelstra talks about him and Bam Adebayo “barking” at each other.

“That’s why I love him, I think he loves me,” Spoelstra said, laughing. “But even if he doesn’t do that, I have to do what’s best for the team, I don’t want to play with him for 24 minutes straight…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/ZKS2cX4I2C

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

One of the words spoken in Spoelstra’s postgame press conference after the loss in Houston was that the Heat are going through “pain,” a feeling that continues to be “uncomfortable” during this skid.

“We’re being tested right now, we’re not the only team that’s being tested,” Spoelstra told ClutchPoints. “It feels uncomfortable, no doubt about that. We definitely got outplayed tonight, in basically every aspect of the game. It’s a game, I understand the other four, but there are some really good things in other games, even more so, and we just have to stay the course.”

Erik Spoelstra was asked about the “pain” the Heat are going through after their loss to the Rockets and speaking about his situation after the Spurs:

“We’re being tested right now… It feels uncomfortable, there’s no doubt about it…”

Full response: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/rXxRb08Dtj

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

What the Heat lacked in the Spurs defeat, and what a ‘good problem’ they have

As the Heat disappointed against the Spurs in almost every category, one area that can’t be seen in the statsheet is the “competitive spirit” that the team lacked, as Adebayo reiterated, shouting out Myron Gardner’s energy despite the result.

“We didn’t bring competitive spirit. That’s really what it was. Shout out to Myron Garner, man, I looked up to Myron because he plays so hard,” Adebayo told ClutchPoints after Gardner played 18 minutes and scored nine points. “We honestly need to match his energy, all of us, because we play like this, we’ll be a completely different team, but our energy has to transfer, and then basketball is going to be basketball. We missed shots, whatever, but you have to continue to play through the missed shots. I felt like we let those shots get to our heads, and it affected us on the other end.”

Asked Bam Adebayo what was the catalyst for Spurs’ disappointing defeat:

“We didn’t bring the competitive spirit, that’s really it, shout out to Myron Gardner… We just needed to match his energy honestly…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/9FoUc3vONX

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

Another challenge for Miami in the game was having the healthiest roster in a long time, with the return of Andrew Wiggins (toe), Jaime Jacquez Jr. (hip), and Norman Powell (calf) from injury. While Spoelstra is still looking for the right rotation to use with 10 games left, Herro would say it’s a “good problem to have.”

“I’m not sure, but we’ve got to figure it out. I’d rather be completely healthy than not go out there, so we have a good problem to have. It’s a good problem to have, and we’ve just got to get back on track,” Herro said after scoring 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field with five rebounds.

Tyler Herro speaks after the Heat’s fifth consecutive L, this time for the Spurs.

We talk about what needs to be fixed, including me asking him if being the healthiest he has been in a long time is part of the problems.

Says it’s a “good problem” for every healthy person. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/lYMQOZJRC0

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

Summer ‘keeps releasing the rope’

The Heat are trying to recover from the pain Spoelstra talks about, playing time is limited after the loss to the Spurs, making it a tough adjustment to have a fully healthy roster for the first time. Despite being an All-Star this season, mostly as a starter, Powell’s coming off the bench has been a step up.

After scoring 21 points on seven of 18 shooting from the field and four of 11 from deep, Powell talked about how the team continues to “let go of the rope” even in adversity.

“I think when things get tough, we let go of the rope,” Powell told ClutchPoints. “I think that’s what happens when we lose like this. We get hit, have some adversity, miss some shots and then everyone starts worrying about what happened on offense, and teams take advantage of that and keep punishing us. When we get hit, we keep going.”

Asked Norman Powell about the five consecutive defeats and what he saw in the defeat:

“I think when things get tough, we let go of the rope… have some adversity, miss some shots, then everyone starts worrying about what happened on offense and teams take advantage…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/V1KJahjCy2

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

As previously stated, there are now 10 games left in the regular season as the Heat are now 38-34, leaving them in ninth place in the Eastern Conference heading into a two-game road trip on Wednesday and Friday, both of which they will face the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Miami Heat face the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night and Bam Adebayo is once again on the injury report. The Heat have listed Adebayo as questionable because of right calf tightness, making Miami’s All-Star big man the focus of attention as the team tries to bounce back from its most recent loss.

Miami enters the matchup at 38-30, No. 7 in the Eastern Conference. The Hornets, meanwhile, are 34-34, 10th in the East and also trying to bounce back from a loss. With both teams fighting for position in the playoff and play-in race, Adebayo’s availability has become increasingly important.

Adebayo remains a cornerstone of Miami’s lineup. Over the course of 60 games, he is averaging 20.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists while shooting 44.4 percent from the field. He’s also converting 32.3 percent from three-point range and 77.4 percent from the free-throw line. Additionally, the versatile big man contributed 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks per game, making an impact on both ends of the floor.

When Adebayo is on the court, the Heat operate with more defensive stability and interior presence. His ability to solidify the paint while facilitating the offense provides Miami with a reliable foundation on both ends.

Bam Adebayo Injury Status vs. Hornets

UPDATE: After being listed as “doubtful” due to right calf tightness, he has been downgraded to “doubtful” for the contest. The star said during shootaround before Tuesday’s game against the Hornets that he was “playing down” the issue.

According to The Miami Herald, Adebayo said, “I’m playing through it. But it got to a point that I had to sit down.”

With a tough schedule coming up after the contest in Charlotte, Adebayo may be well served to sit out the games with his calf injury and prepare for the challenge of the games ahead. Spoelstra talked about being “responsible” for Adebayo’s injury.

“We want to make sure he’s feeling good. So we’ll be responsible for that. He’ll continue to get treatment around the clock. If he’s not able to go, Kel’El will step in there and then other guys will obviously have to step up,” Spoelstra said.

The Heat’s injury report includes several additional names. Terry Rozier and Andrew Wiggins are out, while Nikola Jovic and Pelle Larsson are listed as probable. Tyler Herro, Jaime Jacquez Jr., Kaspars Jakuccionis, Drew Smith and Kel’El Ware are all available despite minor injuries.

For Charlotte, the Hornets’ injury report lists PJ Hall, Antonio Reeves and Tidjane Salaun out.

Still, Adebayo’s status remains the most important factor for Miami moving forward. The Heat will look to regain momentum, while the Hornets aim to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference play-in race.

So when it comes to the question of whether Bam Adebayo is playing against the Hornets tonight, the answer is uncertain. His final standing will depend on pre-game evaluation as Miami looks to get back into the win column.

The Miami Heat are preparing for the playoffs with 14 games remaining in the regular season, the two main goals being to avoid the play-in tournament and staying healthy. Following the Heat’s loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday night with the return of Norman Powell and Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo has found himself on the injury report for the team’s upcoming game.

Tuesday’s road contest against the Charlotte Hornets (34-34) is undoubtedly big for Miami, as are the team’s next five games against teams with winning records. Those teams are the Los Angeles Lakers (42-25) on Thursday, the Houston Rockets (41-25) on Saturday, the San Antonio Spurs (49-18) next Monday, and the Cleveland Cavaliers (41-27, will face them twice next Wednesday and Friday).

However, Miami’s captain, Adebayo, has been added to the team’s injury report ahead of the clash against the Hornets, listed as “questionable” with right calf tightness.

The star is coming off possibly the best week of his career, which included a win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, which included Adebayo’s historic 83-point game, which became the second-highest scoring game ever in the NBA, surpassing Kobe Bryant’s 81.

Although there has been a polarizing reaction to the performance, no one can take away the history the 28-year-old has made, with the NBA obviously awarding him the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award. However, he is in danger of missing Tuesday’s game against the Hornets, a team that has a .500 record; They are 18-7 in their last 25 games.

Additionally, the competition has an impact on the former standings, as each game remaining in the regular season is against the Heat at 38–30, leaving them in seventh place in the conference. They’re a half-game behind the Toronto Raptors, who hold the sixth seed, with Miami in contention for at least that spot should they avoid the play-in tournament.

Miami Heat president Pat Riley is furious with NBA fans and analysts who have tried to dismiss Bam Adebayo’s historic 83-point game this week.

Earlier this week, Adebayo not only had the greatest single-game performance in Heat history, but one of the best scoring performances in NBA history. On March 10, the Miami big man hit seven three-pointers and an absurd 36 free throws en route to scoring 83 points in a win over the Washington Wizards.

While Adebayo’s performance did not earn the record for most points in a single NBA game – which is still held by Wilt Chamberlain and his 100-point game in 1962 – he passed Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant for the No. 2 spot on the all-time list. And this upset many fans and pundits of the game.

Hours after his performance of a lifetime, Adebayo received lots of love from around the world. However, there was a large section of NBA fans and experts who were not fans of his record-breaking night. The biggest point of contention was the number of free throws he shot – Bryant had 20 free throw attempts in his 81-point game – and how the Heat helped him reach 83 by drawing fouls late in the game to Adebayo to get more scoring opportunities.

Pat Riley hits back at Bam Adebayo haters

Well, one person who thinks the hate Adebayo is getting is a bunch of bullshit is Heat President Pat Riley. And the great coach and executive lashed out at the haters on Saturday.

“It’s all bulls***,” Riley told the Miami Herald. “It really is. Anybody who was negative on it, anybody who was cynical about it, anybody who talked about it the way they talked negatively about it, they’re either trying to get views, hits, or they’re podcasters, and that’s their job.

He said, “There are critics today who are very unfair in what was going on with the strategy, and we were fouled, and they were fouled. Same thing happened with Wilt Chamberlain when he scored 100 in the day.” “But I don’t buy any of that. He gave an iconic, absolutely incredible performance, and they tried to dismiss it. And that’s not fair.”

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

MIAMI – As the buzz around the Miami Heat is that Bam Adebayo made history Tuesday by scoring 83 points, the second-highest scoring game ever in the NBA, surpassing Kobe Bryant’s 81 points, there’s no doubt he made an impact. Whatever the effect of the social media discussion surrounding the “ethics” of the Heat captain’s 83-point night, it was felt during the team’s 112-105 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.

The win over the Bucks is Miami’s seventh straight, the longest of the season for the team, and comes after Adebayo had a historic night against the Wizards on Tuesday. Adebayo was clearly and obviously gassed in the contest, though he still finished with 21 points and eight rebounds.

Erik Spoelstra called outing vs. Bucks “one of our more impressive wins”

However, Adebayo’s performance was “inspirational”, as said by head coach Erik Spoelstra, leading to a dominant win over Milwaukee led by a standout performance from Pelle Larsson, which included a career-high 28 points.

“I thought it was one of our most impressive wins of the season,” Spoelstra said. “Going into this, you want to make sure your emotional and mental batteries are recharged. But it’s quite natural that there are some things where you don’t get enough juice. And for what we talked about in our meeting and walk-through, we need some guys to step up, maybe bring some Motivators, you know, inspire motivators.”

Erik Spoelstra was asked about the Heat’s gutsy win, especially after an emotional game on Tuesday, and he talked about Pelle Larsson and Kaspars Jaksionis.

“I thought it was one of our most impressive wins of the season…they were both awesome…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/MukvJbWh6K

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 13 March 2026

Spoelstra would call it a “very good team win”, while acknowledging that Miami was not as “impressive offensively”, possibly due to Tuesday’s emotionally draining night. Still, the Heat would look to hold the Bucks defensively, although Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 31 points.

Adebayo and the Heat look to get back on track and make things happen on Saturday night against the Orlando Magic.

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green shrugged off the criticism surrounding Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo’s historic 83-point performance, calling the reaction a “loser mentality” during the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show.

Adebayo had the second-highest scoring performance in NBA history during the Heat’s 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night. The 28-year-old center exploded for 83 points while adding nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks in 42 minutes, shooting 20-for-43 from the field, 7-for-22 from three-point range and 36-for-43 from the free-throw line.

The performance immediately sparked debate throughout the league, with some critics questioning whether Miami should have allowed Adebayo to continue the late scoring milestone in a game that was already decided.

Green rejected that criticism during his podcast.

“Bam goes for 83 points. Let’s talk about it… 20 years from now, 30 years from now they’ll be in the record books saying Wilt Chamberlain 100 points and until further notice, Bam Adebayo 83. Can’t even say they were playing against the Washington Wizards and they were talking nonsense. So everybody out there is hating like, ‘Hey man, Spo got like that. Shouldn’t have done it. Oh, man Bam’ He shouldn’t have done that, he shouldn’t have done that, he shouldn’t have done that.

👀 🔥 “I don’t care how you do it, scoring 83 in an NBA game is crazy!” Voices rise in support of Draymond Green #BamAdebayo Putting up 83 – a statistic for the history books! pic.twitter.com/8wTXFzosnu

– The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) 13 March 2026

Draymond Green calls criticism of Bam Adebayo’s scoring night ‘loser mentality’

Green expressed much of his frustration toward what he described as unwritten rules that discourage teams from running score after the game’s outcome is no longer in doubt.

“Y’all want Spo to feel bad for that organization and kick Bam out of the game and not let him go after the record? I hate these unwritten rules in basketball like don’t score because y’all are ahead. Bullshit! This loser ass mentality people have in this world is really pathetic…’ You should kick him out [of] Who says ‘game because you’re up too many points’? It’s not their fault they stink!”

Adebayo’s scoring surge started early in the game. He scored 31 points in the first quarter and finished the first half with 43, already putting himself in range of one of the league’s most elite scoring marks.

Green argued that the initial outburst made criticism of the performance even more unfair.

“Bam had 43 at halftime, which means for all the haters out there, like, ‘Oh, he should have come out of the game,’ he was on his way to 86… I really think that’s crazy. [that] People are really hating. We’ve seen a lot of guys stat chase and stat pad in the NBA, but no one has made their way and stat chased up to 83. I don’t care how you do it, scoring 83 in an NBA game is crazy. And we’ll act like this guy was just chasing stats to get 83 points, no. He had 30 points in the first quarter. Let’s stop acting like some crazy person gone crazy, like it’s Bam Adebayo, are you all kidding me?

Green backs Heat coach Erik Spoelstra after Adebayo’s 83-point night

Green also voiced support for Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra, who allowed Adebayo to remain in the game as the milestone approached.

“Man, I got love from Coach Spo for that. A lot of times you see coaches take people out like, ‘Oh, we got a lead, sportsmanship bullshit’. Bullshit. I can’t believe there was so much fuss about Bam scoring 83 like he cheated or something? The bullshit went out of here.”

Adebayo’s historic outing added to an already productive season for the Heat star. In 59 games, he has averaged 20 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 44.4% from the field and 32.4% from three-point range.

Miami improved to 38-29 after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night, extending its winning streak to seven games while taking over the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference standings.

As the buzz continues about Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo making history by scoring 83 points against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night, one person who saw it coming was his teammate in WNBA superstar A’ja Wilson. While the sports world can debate the morality of a Heat captain scoring 83 points on Adebayo, no one can take away that milestone, Wilson put it on full display Thursday night.

Wilson will be in attendance for Miami’s 112-105 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, where she was representing Adebayo’s accomplishment. Subsequently, Adebayo’s 83 points tied him for the second-highest scoring game in a game, ahead of Kobe Bryant (81) and behind Wilt Chamberlain (100), as Wilson used emojis to show the order.

A’ja Wilson wore this custom made shirt to last night’s Heat-Bucks game.

💯 💥 🐍

want. Bomb. Kobe.

(via @_ajawilson22/threads) pic.twitter.com/RCWg9tS4Pn

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 13 March 2026

A’ja Wilson speaks on the work done by Heat’s Bam Adebayo

After the historic 83-point game, Adebayo told ClutchPoints it didn’t matter to him that he made history until he hugged his mother and Wilson as they both witnessed the tremendous work he did. Wilson would echo those sentiments when speaking to the media alongside Adebayo on Tuesday.

“I know he says I’m his inspiration,” Wilson said. “But I don’t think he has any idea how much he inspires me to continue to be who I am.”

Wilson continued, “I see the countless hours he put in, I see the early-morning workouts, the question-and-answers, the self-doubt, all that.” “And I’m grateful that God is really special to her. God doesn’t play around with balms.”

A’ja Wilson speaks on the “countless hours” that Bam Adebayo has spent behind the scenes.

Talked about how “accomplished” he is and about Adebayo’s journey. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/2vvRQY3NoX

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 11 March 2026

At any rate, the power couple now have massive points totals for their respective leagues as Adebayo holds the second-highest scoring game with 83 points, and Wilson holds the record for most points in a WNBA game with 53 points. As a result, Adebayo now looks to continue leading the Heat and extend their seven-game winning streak against the Orlando Magic on Saturday.

MIAMI – After Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo had his 83-point game on Tuesday night, there was no denying how this performance would be immortalized in NBA history. As the sports world debates whether or not the Heat captain’s 83-point night was unethical, no one can take away from Adebayo’s special night for the positives it could have on its lasting impact on the team.

Adebayo will break franchise records and reach major milestones, but what matters most is that his 83 points on Tuesday against the Washington Wizards surpassed Kobe Bryant’s 81 points, giving him the second-highest scoring game ever.

The loss meant the win dropped them to sixth place in the Eastern Conference, eliminating them from the play-in tournament for the time being, although they head into Thursday’s contest against the Milwaukee Bucks with 16 games left in the season. The outcome of even one game could impact the standings, with Miami holding just a half-game lead over the seventh-seeded Toronto Raptors.

If there’s one of many things that Adebayo can do to score 83 points in a game, it’s to inspire the team to greener pastures ahead, as head coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned.

“It was motivation the other night. And maybe motivation needs to be motivating tonight,” Spoelstra said. “So maybe there will be some X factors.”

“The situation we’re in right now, it’s not going to happen unless we create the environment for that game,” Spoelstra added. “Bam set the tone with his energy and will in that first quarter, and that type of energy and effort and motivation, maybe it comes from him, but maybe it comes from a lot of other players who inspire effort in any other game that means just as much in the standings.”

Erik Spoelstra is on the team and Bam Adebayo is now focused on the games and season ahead: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/NzEKbgH8De

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 12 March 2026

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra on the ethics of Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game

While the big man’s night was special in every imaginable way, some were complaining about the Heat’s Adebayo the way he scored 83 points, whether it was the massive amount of free throws and intentional fouling in the fourth quarter.

Some have cited Spoelstra as one of the main reasons for questions about the “ethics” of the performance. As for Spoelstra, he stood ten feet down on the outing and said, “I’m not apologizing to anyone.”

Asked about the word ‘ethics’ being thrown around in criticism, Spoelstra told ClutchPoints, “I’m not losing any sleep over what other people are saying about it.” “What’s ethical? What’s not? Is it ethical to foul a three-point shooter? Is that ethical or not? Is it ethical to foul a bad free-throw shooter and get an extra possession, you know or not? Like all these things happened in under two minutes, he had already broken a lot of records, and we’re going to go for it. It was an amazing moment to be a part of that.”

“And I would do it again 10 times out of 10 for Bam,” Spoelstra continued. “I feel very good for Bam, because he’s about all the right things.”

Erik Spoelstra was asked about critics questioning the “ethics” of Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game.

“I don’t care…I would do it again 10 times out of 10…I think most people who probably made comments didn’t see that it was irresponsible or unethical…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/6iBMAi1P0A

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 12 March 2026

At any rate, Adebayo’s historic 83-point night has immortalized him in history as one that will always be remembered, no matter how the discourse looks. In terms of boosting Miami’s playoff run, the team looks to take advantage of this, as after Thursday against the Bucks, the Heat will face the Orlando Magic on Saturday night in an important matchup.

MIAMI – As Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo made NBA history by scoring 83 points in the team’s 150-128 win over the Washington Wizards, surpassing Kobe Bryant’s 81 for the second-highest scoring game ever, the conversation is polarizing. With the NBA world reacting to the Heat captain’s 83-point night, with some saying there should be an asterisk next to the game and others questioning the ethics, came head coach Erik Spoelstra’s response.

There was no denying a special night for Adebayo, who etched his name in the annals of NBA history by scoring 83 points, capping a dominant performance by Washington that few had seen before. However, people have pointed to the 43 free-throw attempts, the team intentionally committing fouls to gain more possession, and other examples of a lackluster night.

If there’s one word that’s been floating around on social media about comparing Adebayo’s game to Bryant’s game in 2006, it’s that some people say one word is more “ethical” than the other. For Spoelstra, those who have raised their voices on the matter did not take into account history and said that this in itself is “immoral”.

“I think most of the people who probably made comments didn’t watch the game, it’s irresponsible or unethical,” Spoelstra told ClutchPoints. “You don’t even understand the context of the game, like it was a 13-point game. I remember going back into the huddle after the timeout, and [Assistant coach Chris Quinn] Said, “‘Hey, we’ve got to win this game, like we’re chasing something, and that’s great, but we’ve got to win this game.'”

“It was a 13-point game with nine more turnovers, and then bang, we hit three threes in a row… and then his total kept going up. Everything, I would say, was pretty traditional, if you want to say that, until it was the last two minutes, and then we have the autonomy to do whatever we want in those two minutes, whether people think it’s pure or moral or not. Bam and what a great moment it is for this franchise and the city.”

Erik Spoelstra was asked about critics questioning the “ethics” of Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game.

“I don’t care…I would do it again 10 times out of 10…I think most people who probably made comments didn’t see that it was irresponsible or unethical…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/6iBMAi1P0A

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 12 March 2026

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra: ‘I’m not apologizing to anyone’

Opinions coming from Tuesday night were all over the place, with one reporter, Sam Amick of The Athletic, even saying that the Heat center in Adebayo should have taken out the game before breaking Bryant’s mark to honor his legacy. As negotiations continue in the near future, Spoelstra has doubled down on his actions to help Adebayo achieve association history.

“I don’t care, I’m not losing sleep over what other people are saying about it,” Spoelstra said. “What’s ethical? What’s not? Is it ethical to foul a three-point shooter? Is that ethical or not? Is it ethical to foul a bad free-throw shooter and get an extra possession, you know or not? Like all these things happened in under two minutes, he had already broken a lot of records, and we’re going to go for it. It was an amazing moment to be a part of that.”

“And I would do it again 10 times out of 10 for Bam, I’m not apologizing to anybody about that,” Spoelstra added. “I feel great for Bam, because he’s about all the right things, you know. And already in our walkthrough, he’s talking about defense, and we’ve got to prepare our defense to rock tonight. But as a leader, the other night, you know, to set the tone for that game, they can be tough games. I thought it was the leadership personality, and then it went on steroids from there, and it just went off the hill. Became a snowball rolling down.”

With people questioning efficiency, this may have been more evidence that some people weren’t following the game, as Adebayo scored 31 points in the first quarter, 43 in the first half, shooting 54 percent from the field (13/24), 45 percent from deep (5/11).

Over the course of three quarters, he scored 62 points (17/35) on 49 percent shooting from the field, with the final frame being the highlight of those free throws, although Washington’s defense was poor and unable to stop Adebayo. At any rate, no one can take away from Adebayo that he has solidified himself among the greats as he looks to lead Miami into Thursday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks and beyond.

Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo scored a career-high 83 points, the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, surpassing Kobe Bryant’s 81-point performance in 2006. Only Wilt Chamberlain and his 100-point game exceed Adebayo.

In 42 minutes of play, Bam Adebayo finished with 83 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots. He shot 20 of 43 from the field, 7 of 22 from three and 36 of 43 from the free throw line in the historic game.

Adebayo set a new record with 43 free throws in a game, surpassing Dwight Howard’s record of 39.

Many players and coaches from around the NBA world reacted to Adebayo’s terrible scoring night, including some of the league’s best scorers.

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo offered his support to Adebayo after the Bucks’ home loss to the Phoenix Suns.

“Unbelievable,” Antetokounmpo said. “83 is incredible. It says a lot about his hard work. I haven’t seen the game yet, I have to see the game. He took 43 free throws? It doesn’t matter how you got there. What matters is that you got it. Like 10, 20, 30 years from now, no one will remember how many free throw shots he shot. I don’t think I remember how many shots Kobe shot or how many free throws he made or That’s 81. You don’t remember that, at the end of the day he’s got 83 points. I know he works hard every day.”

Bam Adebayo’s former Olympic teammate in Kevin Durant of the Houston Rockets was also surprised by the accomplishment.

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard it in real time,” Durant said after his team’s game. “It seems like he got 30 in the first quarter. Congratulations to Bam. I know how much he works. I looked at the stat-sheet, it’s crazy. He had 40 shots, 40 free throws, 20 threes. It takes a lot of stamina, a lot of energy to make those shots and then make them, set a record, surpassing Kobe as the second-highest scorer in the history of the game. Congratulations to him. It’s a huge accomplishment.” Which we will always talk about.

I asked Kevin Durant about Bam Adebayo’s 83 point game.

“Something we’ll always talk about.” pic.twitter.com/mRXm3XkBrY

– Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) 11 March 2026

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama appeared to be more dismissive of the accomplishment in his postgame interview after the Spurs defeated the Boston Celtics.

“Yes, I see,” Vembanyama said before pausing. “I think we’re in a league where there’s a lot of inspiration to look at, but yes I looked…”

Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama says Bam Adebayo’s 83-point drop tonight is a source of inspiration:

“We’re playing in a league where there’s a lot of motivation to watch.”@spurfectblog #porvida pic.twitter.com/3HyxcojZT1

– Carolina Teague (@CTtheMicSlayer) 11 March 2026

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka also seemed a little dismissive of the 83-point performance.

“The first thing you think about is how, not because of him, but because of the way he plays,” Udoka said. “I saw he only made six threes, but 40 free throws or something. That tells the story right there. And the Washington Wizards.”

Philadelphia 76ers forward Kelly Oubre expressed another opinion, crediting his Sixers teammate Joel Embiid.

“Well, I’m going to say it’s definitely legendary,” Aubrey said. “Hats off to the box-score, the numbers, and Bam. He’s etched himself in history. I’m sad that he bested Kobe, he’s definitely one of my favorite players, but I’ll just say, Joel did it masterfully and he did it in three quarters.”

Kelly Oubre totally talks about Bam Adebayo scoring 83 points with the mic drop after the game. 🫳🏽🎤

“I’m just going to say that this guy, Joel [Embiid] Did it efficiently, and they did it in three quarters”

(via @CiavoNBA) pic.twitter.com/gnzbi49jvk

— Philly Sports Network (@PhiladelphiaSN) 11 March 2026

Following Anthony Edwards and the Los Angeles Lakers’ home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Lakers head coach JJ Redick explained where he was watching the game from and how he found out about the news.

“It’s incredible what he was able to do,” Reddick said. “I went in and I looked at the score. He was at the free throw line and they’ve been playing great basketball lately. I told my coaching staff, ‘The Heat is on.’ He looked at me and said, ‘Are you kidding right now?’ I said, ‘No, what’s happening?’ They are 36-28, they will be 37-28. And they say, ‘No, Bam has 77.’ And I was like, ‘Huh?!’ I watched the last three minutes and it was a different kind of basketball.

When asked by JJ Redick on Bam Adebayo’s 83-point night @mirjamswanson: :

“It’s unbelievable what he was able to do…I watched the last three minutes and it was a different type of basketball.”#lakers pic.twitter.com/Vk2cvpDFyf

– Carlos Yakimovich (@CarlosYakJr) 11 March 2026

There will surely be more players and coaches shouting out Bam Adebayo’s accomplishment on Wednesday night, but so far, there have been mixed reactions to the Heat star’s 83-point night.

Following his 83-point game, Bam Adebayo is now averaging 20 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 32.9 percent from the free throw line.

Bam Adebayo did the unthinkable on Tuesday night when he scored 83 points in the Miami Heat’s 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards. Despite scoring the second-most points ever in a single NBA game, Washington head coach Brian Keefe didn’t seem too impressed with Adebayo’s performance at the end of the contest.

The 49-year-old head coach credited Adebayo for playing well in the first half of the game. However, during the post-game press conference, Keefe explained that as the game progressed, it began to feel like a fake basketball game, especially in the fourth quarter.

“I give [Adebayo] Credit to the first half, Keefe said. “He hit the ball brilliantly, he scored really well with the ball… [The Heat] Obviously kept him in the game. You know, there were a lot of wrong calls. 16 free throws in the fourth quarter…

“He still got some free throws from 40 feet to the rim. I can’t explain some of those calls… The turnovers and the offensive rebounds, the possession game was definitely important. We only lost the game by seven in the second half, but the fourth quarter turned into a real basketball game.”

“The fourth quarter turned into a real basketball game.”

Wizards head coach Brian Keefe dropped 83 points on his team’s Bam Adebayo 😳

(via @WashWizards)pic.twitter.com/XfrN11UuWM

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 11 March 2026

The Wizards coach also pointed to Turnov and offensive rebounding as major reasons for Washington losing the game. Washington turned the ball over 23 times compared to the Heat’s 16, while on the offensive end the team was outscored four times for 15. Ultimately, Keefe claimed that it was a mistake for him and his team to allow Adebayo to take control of the game.

36 of Bam Adebayo’s 83 points came from the free-throw line, a new NBA record for most free throws made in a single contest. The 28-year-old center recorded 21 points from beyond the three-point line, while shooting 31.8% from deep. The remaining 26 points scored by Adebayo came within two-point range, the majority of which were within the key. He also recorded nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block.

While many NBA veterans celebrated Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo’s historic 83 points, a fair share of the negativity originated from fans of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant. It was Bryant’s 81 points that Adebayo surpassed, and count former Lakers forward and Bryant’s former teammate Robert Horry as someone who wasn’t exactly thrilled with the performance.

During a segment on Spectrum Sportsnet, Robert Horry criticized Bam Adebayo’s 83 points during the Heat’s win against the Washington Wizards, citing the alleged manner in which he accomplished the historic feat.

Horry said, “83 points is impressive. But it gets to a point where you have to respect the game. And I think there were moments in this game where it wasn’t respected.” “83 points is a lot, I appreciate the effort, and it’s going to go down as the second-most points in the game. But it’s like you always say on certain things, there should be an asterisk by it, I’m putting an asterisk by it. It’s still a lot. I’m not taking anything away from Bam, it’s a lot.”

There is no doubt that what Horry was referring to was the end of the game in which the Heat intentionally fouled to extend the game and gain additional possessions to help Adebayo break Bryant’s record.

Adebayo’s historic night gives him the second-most points scored by an individual player behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100. He is now only one of three players to reach 80 or more points in a single game. Meanwhile, there are a few players who have hit 70 and above, including current players Luka Doncic, Devin Booker, Joel Embiid, Donovan Mitchell and Damian Lillard as well as former players Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, David Robinson and David Thompson.

There is no doubt that Bam Adebayo’s 83-point performance for the Miami Heat on March 10 was one of the best individual performances in NBA history. His scoring explosion resulted in him ranking second all-time in single-game scoring, behind only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962. While monster scoring games have become more common in recent years, it was rare to see players exceed the 60-point threshold after Chamberlain’s playing days ended. After all, the greatest center of all-time scored 60 or more points 32 times out of 92 ever.

Sure, Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in 2006, but it wasn’t until Devin Booker’s 70-point performance on March 24, 2017, that extremely high-scoring affairs really started happening with more regularity. As impressive as Adebayo, Booker and other 70-plus point games in recent history were, it’s also clear that many of these scoring outputs were a bit inflated. Late-game machinations resulted in a monster scoring performance that turned out to be something else entirely. Adebayo and Booker similarly went from playing basketball at the highest level for most of the game, then taking part in what some saw as not actually playing actual basketball, in pursuit of the record books.

Both players turned in their iconic performances, as well as their respective teams, to score 70 points (Booker) and surpass Bryant’s scoring mark (Adebayo) late in the game. So, were these late pranks worth it?

A look at the career nights of Devin Booker and Bam Adebayo

As mentioned above, in 2017, such high-scoring games weren’t really as important as they are now. Booker was the leader in that regard as he scored 70 points. Therefore, it was necessary to take a page out of Chamberlain’s book and draw the number 70 on a piece of paper. Booker scored 70 in his second season in the league at just 20 years old, making him not only the youngest 70-point scorer, but also the youngest player to cross the 60-point mark.

His Phoenix Suns were not very good at that time, so Booker had to carry a heavy burden for the team. He wasn’t actually to blame for Phoenix losing that match, as the shooting guard really did everything in his power to try to lead his team to victory. Still, knowing that it ended in a relatively decisive defeat takes away a bit of the charm from Booker’s performance.

While Booker was playing a huge game regardless, a lot of his points didn’t come until the last few minutes of the game when it was already getting out of hand. He had 19 points at halftime and 42 points by the end of the third quarter. He then broke the franchise scoring record with 61 points at the 1:49 mark. From there, Booker scored 70 points, hitting one shot after another with less than two minutes remaining. No one on his team was attempting to score, even if it meant giving his team a better chance of realistically coming back.

The same thing was happening in Adebayo’s iconic game. His Heat teammates were even intentionally missing free throws to give Adebayo a potential chance to get more possessions and shots. Adebayo was also clearly foul-baiting in order to get to the free throw line at the end of the game. Some would argue that it destroys the prestige and honor of the glorious game of basketball.

Adebayo scored his 79th point with 2:05 left in the game, surpassing Chamberlain for third most points ever. He tied Bryant with 81 points at the 1:37 mark, and the 82nd and 83rd points took him into sole possession of the second-highest scoring game of all time at the 1:16 mark.

While Adebayo was clearly unconscious from everywhere on the floor all night, all six of those record-breaking late-game points came from the charity stripe. The Heat also won in blowout fashion, 150-129. While Adebayo was often singled out because of that wasted time, it should be appreciated that his scoring directly led to a huge win.

Regardless, what Adebayo and Booker did was impressive, no matter how you try to spin it. No one else has ever scored 83 points for some reason. Despite what some would consider borderline unethical play late, both players were clearly playing incredible games. Whatever happens, they deserved to have their names entered in the record books.

Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo delivered one of the most historic scoring performances in NBA history on Monday night, but ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith directed most of the post-game discussion toward the Washington Wizards’ defense following Miami’s 150-129 win.

Adebayo scored 83 points – the second-highest scoring total in NBA history – leading the Heat to their sixth consecutive win, drawing widespread reaction throughout the league. During Tuesday’s broadcast of ESPN’s First Take, Smith criticized the Wizards’ defensive effort, arguing that Washington offered little resistance as Adebayo put up points all night.

Smith made his comments while discussing the game with co-host Chris Russo.

“It’s not Bam Adebayo’s fault. Brother had 31 points in the first quarter, he had 43 points at halftime, he had 62 points in three quarters, he had 70 points with nine minutes left. It’s not his fault the Washington Wizards suck. It’s not his fault you really got him a career night because he hasn’t put up much resistance in a while.”

Adebayo’s scoring progression reflects the dominance referenced by Smith. The 28-year-old started the game with 31 points in the first quarter and reached 43 points at halftime. He had 62 points entering the fourth quarter and crossed the 70-point mark with nine minutes remaining.

“It’s not like that [Bam’s] The blame is that the Washington Wizards suck. …I’m not blaming Bam Adebayo for this. Congratulations to him. This is his moment.”

—@stephensmith On 43 free throw attempts in Bam Adebayo’s 83-point performance 🏀 pic.twitter.com/vEEFAxwHKh

– First Tech (@FirstTech) 11 March 2026

Stephen A. Smith says Wizards defense ‘tainted’ Bam Adebayo’s historic 83-point game

Smith also suggested that the circumstances surrounding the conclusion of the game contributed to the historic score.

“Then you’re talking about the Cats that are deliberately hitting people with fouls to get more possessions to give Bam Adebayo a chance at the record and things like that. Obviously he’s tarnished it, it’s not his fault. He went out there and did what he was supposed to do. And even though he didn’t shoot 50% from the field – last time I checked, shooting 48% from the field. 47% shots aren’t bad either. He shot 20 out of 43, right? It wasn’t like he shot 13 for 43.

Adebayo finished the night with 83 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks in 42 minutes. He shot 20 of 43 from the field, 7 of 22 from three-point range, and 36 of 43 from the free-throw line, while posting a team-best plus-20 rating.

Smith compared the performance to Kobe Bryant’s famous 81-point game in 2006, noting the difference in reaction from opposing defenses.

“When Kobe did that, he did it in the flow of his game and in the game itself. It got to the point where they were giving him the rock because they knew Kobe was going for it. He made 28 of 46 shots, 7 of 13 threes, he was in attack mode. I know Toronto Raptors coach Sam Mitchell… what did he say? We did everything, we doubled him. We did everything we could. We changed the guards on that.

Smith says Heat star should be celebrated

Smith followed up his criticism of the Wizards by defending Adebayo’s performance.

“Obviously that was not the case with Bam Adebayo last night. But you can point the finger [Erik] Spoelstra, you can point the finger at his teammates, you can point the finger at how brutal the Washington Wizards were last night and it will be a stain on their franchise for years to come. But you can’t blame Bam Adebayo because obviously he was doing it and knew it from the first quarter because he had never seen a game like this in his life.

Despite Smith’s criticism of Washington, he stressed that Adebayo’s accomplishment deserves recognition.

“But this is a day where he should be celebrated because he’s one of those good guys who grabs his lunch bill and comes to work every day and does his best… Congratulations to him. This is his moment.”

The performance added another milestone to Adebayo’s season. Through 58 games, the Heat center is averaging 20 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals, while shooting 44.8% from the field and 32.9% from three-point range.

Miami improved to 37-29 with Monday’s win, extending its winning streak to six games and moving into the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference standings.

Victor Wembanyama may be one of the NBA’s best players, but he’s also a basketball fan like the rest of us. That’s why Wembley, like many people around the world, was watching Bam Adebayo’s historic 83-point performance for the Miami Heat on Tuesday night, the second-highest scoring game in NBA history.

Adebayo, who made history on Tuesday night, has mesmerized NBA players, personnel and fans, leading to a variety of opinions regarding his 83-point game.

Some, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, have saluted Bam’s performance, claiming it to be an “incredible” accomplishment. There are also those who are dismissing this performance and claiming that Adebayo did not properly score 83 points due to his 43 free-throw attempts.

And then there’s Wembanyama, who basically ignored what Adebayo did and didn’t actually give his opinion on the 83 points.

“Yeah, I saw (it),” Wembanyama said of Adebayo’s game on Tuesday night before a long pause. “We play in a league where there’s a lot of motivation to watch. But yes, I watched.”

“I think we play in a league where there’s a lot of motivation to watch… but yes, I watched.”

Wembey on whether Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game will propel him to chase the scoring record 🗣

(via @spurs)pic.twitter.com/gqQ7V4BBxz

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 11 March 2026

Of course, Wembanyama ended his answer in the most Wembey way possible and shrugged his shoulders and moved on to the next question about the San Antonio Spurs’ big 125-116 win over the Boston Celtics, which extended the Spurs’ winning streak to five games.

Although he’s not as animated or critical in his press conferences as Gregg Popovich was throughout his years with the Spurs, Wembanyama has never been one to share his full thoughts on things. He gives cryptic answers about his greatness, and that’s why we shouldn’t have expected anything different from his answer about Bam Adebayo on Tuesday night.

Perhaps Wembley leans one way or the other regarding Bam’s 83-point performance, but his answer was spot-on in the sense that he understands his opinion doesn’t really matter. Adebayo scored 83 points, whether people want to admit it or not, and for Wembley, this performance has no impact on him or the Spurs’ season.

That’s why his reply was short and sweet, with no additional context, sarcasm or anything of that nature.

Will Vembanyama use this as additional motivation to chase his scoring record? It’s certainly possible, but Wemby isn’t one to let the accomplishments of others dictate his career path.

Given the Spurs’ success this season and his own personal accolades, Wembanyama has more to worry about than Adebayo’s amazing performances for the Heat. And so, his response and shrug regarding Bam’s 83 points is exactly what one should have expected from Wembanyama.

The Miami Heat became the center of attention in the NBA world on Tuesday evening when center Bam Adebayo scored an astonishing 83 points in a home win over the Washington Wizards. The scoring explosion put Adebayo past Kobe Bryant, who famously scored 81 points 20 years ago, as the second-most points ever, behind only Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 100 points in a game.

Almost immediately after the game ended, some fans on the Internet, particularly Bryant and Los Angeles Lakers fans, began searching for ways to discredit Adebayo’s performance, with some pointing to the star’s over 40 free throw attempts in the game, as well as the fact that this outburst occurred against the tanking Washington Wizards.

Things got weird late in this one, with the Heat opting to keep Adebayo in the game in the blowout zone in an attempt to clinch the record. The Wizards then began calling fouls to put Adebayo’s Heat teammates on the line to prevent Adebayo from scoring, after which Miami players began intentionally missing free throws to get the ball back.

This is in contrast to Bryant’s game against the Raptors, in which the Lakers trailed for most of the evening and needed every one of the Star’s 81 points to win, leading some to conclude that Bryant’s historic game was more “moral” than the one produced by Adebayo.

While this may be true in the purest basketball terms, it shouldn’t take away from what Adebayo has accomplished. The Stars had 31 points in the first quarter alone, and it’s also important to note that 29 other teams play the Wizards, and none have come close to matching Adebayo’s output.

It is also worth remembering that Chamberlain was reported to have done a huge amount of stat-padding in his attempt to score 100 points, even having the opponent deliberately foul him to get him over the line.

Years from now, most fans will likely remember Adebay’s extremely difficult score, not the means by which he got there, even if they look a little sketchy at the moment.

On Tuesday evening, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo etched his name in the history books with an 83-point outburst against the Washington Wizards. This spectacular performance passed the late Kobe Bryant for the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, behind only Wilt Chamberlain, who had 100.

After the Phoenix Suns’ win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, Suns guard Collin Gillespie was asked about the historic night for Adebayo, and his answer raised eyebrows.

“I don’t really care,” Gillespie, formerly of X, said on Twitter, according to SunsWorldwide.

On Wednesday, Gillespie posted a tweet apologizing, writing, “No disrespect meant… It had nothing to do with our game or our team… It’s still a historic and great accomplishment for him.”

However, Gillespie has since deleted the post.

Heat fans have been quick to berate anyone attempting to provide context to Adebayo’s historic night on Tuesday, which included more than 40 free throw attempts, and the team kept the star well into garbage time in the game in pursuit of the record.

The final minutes of the game included a bizarre scene in which the Wizards were intentionally lining up Adebayo’s teammates to prevent him from scoring, while the Heat’s players were intentionally missing free throws to force Adebayo to foul on a rebounding action.

Whether this qualifies as a “moral” 83 points is certainly debatable, but Adebayo is now in the record books for his historic performance, which also led the Heat to their sixth consecutive win.

Miami is now in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, and essentially tied with the Toronto Raptors for fifth place, which is potentially as high as they could realistically be before the season ends.

In any case, Adebayo’s night will be long remembered.

While some people are upset with Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game, New York Knicks superfan Ben Stiller celebrated it by giving a shout-out to Cam Payne.

During the game, Stiller reacted to Adebayo’s play by reposting Jalen Brunson’s reaction, simply writing, “Bro what.”

However, after the game, he thanked former Knicks and current Philadelphia 76ers guard Payne, who also had a great night on March 10. He scored 32 points with 10 assists and three rebounds. Payne made nine of his 10 shots and was perfect from downtown.

Stiller didn’t want his accomplishment to go unnoticed, so he responded to a post with his stats, writing, “In other news… go on cam,” along with an admiring hand emoji.

Bam Adebayo has 83-point game in Heat’s blowout win over Washington Wizards

On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, Adebayo had a career day when he scored 83 points. The Heat defeated the Washington Wizards 150–129.

The game was never really close. Miami led 40–29 after the first quarter and they led 76–62 at halftime. Despite the lead always being large, Adebayo continued to score.

His 83 points came after shooting 43 free throws, 36 of which were made. He also shot 20-43 from the floor, including 7-22 from behind the three-point line. Additionally, Adebayo had nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. While the scoring was high, he also had five turnovers.

This game raised Adebayo’s average. He now has averages of 20 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. This is just shy of his career best in points (following the 2022–23 season, during which he averaged 20.4 points per game).

Adebayo is a former first round pick by the Heat in the 2017 NBA draft out of Kentucky. Throughout his career, he has been named to three NBA All-Star teams. In 2024, he was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. He has also been named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team four times (from 2020 to 2023).

When Bam Adebayo poured in a career-high 41 points in the first half of the Miami Heat’s Finals win over the Washington Wizards, fans had a pretty good idea they were going to see something special after halftime of an otherwise unimportant Tuesday night performance.

As each Bam bucket went in, the game became more exciting, with the all-time Heat records of franchise legends like Dwyane Wade and LeBron James weakening until only one, Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game, remained.

While Adebayo wasn’t able to reach that seemingly impossible 100-point mark, he finished second behind Kobe Bryant with 83, leading one of the “Black Mamba’s” all-time rivals, Dirk Nowitzki, to celebrate the occasion with a special social media post.

83?????

-Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) 11 March 2026

A prolific scorer in his own right, going over 50 several times, including a career-high 53 against the Houston Rockets, Nowitzki was clearly excited to see another big man turn in such an impressive effort from across the court, with Adebayo finishing the contest by shooting 20-24 from the field, 7-22 from beyond the arc and 36-43 from the free throw line in 42 minutes of action.

Will Adebayo ever score this many points in an NBA game again? Given that there have only been two other 80-point scorers in the last 70 years, this seems unlikely. But then again, who expected a random Tuesday night to center around a player scoring 83? Adebayo now finds himself in NBA history, and considering the players he’s among, that’s a pretty good place to be.

Bam Adebayo captured the attention of the entire sports world with his historic 83-point night in the Miami Heat’s 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards. He now has the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, surpassing the 81 points scored by Kobe Bryant in 2006 and trailing only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game.

Adebayo’s historic night was also attended by his wife, Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson, and his mother, Marilyn Blount. After the game, Adebayo shared a romantic moment with his girlfriend, who was reacting live to her partner’s poor scoring on the threads.

“Welp won’t set career highs at home anymore 😭 but at least it gives me something to go after 🤭,” Wilson wrote.

Wilson’s career-high scoring is 53 points, which he recorded against the Atlanta Dream in 2023. By the third quarter, Adebayo had surpassed that number.

“60 in 3 quarters!??!!?!?! Yessirrr,” Wilson said.

Adebayo set a Heat franchise record for scoring by the end of the third, when he had 62 points to surpass LeBron James’ 61-point tally.

“A new record!!!” Wilson further said. “History!!!”

After the game, Wilson joked about his teammate’s accomplishment, saying that the NBA would now come for him and test him for performance-enhancing drugs.

“Go ahead and pee in that cup my boi! EOS,” Wilson jokingly wrote.

Heat’s Bam Adebayo even surprises his girlfriend

No one in the world knows Adebayo’s skills on the hardwood better than Wilson, who may have watched the Heat star up close a thousand times in the past. So for him to be stunned by the Heat star’s achievement says a lot.

And his surprise should come as no surprise. After all, Adebayo’s previous career-high was 41 points, and as great a player as he is, scoring isn’t his greatest strength.

Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo broke Kobe Bryant’s mark of 81 points with a historic 83-point performance against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.

He also broke the hearts of many Los Angeles Lakers fans.

There were some salty tears being shed at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night, with Lakers fans criticizing the announcement made before the game between Los Angeles and the Minnesota Timberwolves that Adebayo had passed LA legend Kobe Bryant for the second-highest scoring performance in a single game in NBA history.

Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter just announced Bam’s 83 points and called it a sad event. Cheers scattered throughout the LA home crowd. pic.twitter.com/0wYoYcJFN7

– David Mendez-Yapkowitz (@Dave_Yapkowitz) 11 March 2026

To say that Adebayo was on the field against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday evening would be an understatement. He made 20 of 43 shots from the floor and 7 of 22 on his attempts from behind the arc. The former Kentucky Wildcats star also performed well at the free-throw line, where he shot 36 of 43. They made more free throws from the foul line (29) than the Wizards attempted.

Of the thousands of players who have played in the NBA, he is now one of two in history to score at least 83 points in a game, along with Wilt Chamberlain, whose 100 points in 1962 remains the gold standard for single-game scoring feats.

Kobe’s 81 points in the 2006 game hold a special place in the hearts of Lakers fans, so at this point it’s a little hard for them to accept that someone in the modern era has topped the Black Mamba’s total score in that game against the Toronto Raptors 20 years ago.

The Lakers will visit Adebayo and the Heat on March 19, so this is a game where he can make a big statement to those bitter LA fans.

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers earned their second consecutive win against one of the better teams in the NBA after a 120-106 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the talk of the night was Bam Adebayo’s 83-point masterclass during the Miami Heat’s win against the Washington Wizards. Lakers head coach JJ Redick tuned into the Heat game to watch the final minutes of Adebayo’s night.

After the Lakers’ win against the Timberwolves, JJ Redick admitted that he initially didn’t know what was going on, and once he realized, he described what he felt after watching Bam Adebayo drop 83 points.

“It’s incredible what he was able to do. I went in and I looked at the score, and he [Bam] Was on the free-throw line, and I looked at the score, and they’ve been playing great basketball lately,” Redick recalled. “I told my coaching staff, ‘Oh, they’re on a roll.’ They all looked at each other and said, ‘Are you kidding right now?’

“And I say, ‘No, what’s going on?’…They say, ‘Bam has 77.’ And then I watched the last three minutes, and it was a different type of basketball.

There’s no doubt Redick was referring to the final moments when it became clear the Heat were trying to bring in Adebayo to surpass former Lakers star Kobe Bryant’s 81-point performance. This included some intentional fouls by the Heat to gain extra possession to extend the game and get the ball back into Adebayo’s hands.

But at the end of the day, Adebayo’s name went down in NBA history with the second-highest individual scoring performance behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 points.

Bam Adebayo has been the talk of the town after owning the second-highest scoring game in NBA history after recording 83 points in a 150-129 win for the Miami Heat over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night. Adebayo is a career 16 points per game scorer, averaging just under 19 for the season entering Tuesday night, making him a fairly unlikely player to surpass Kobe Bryant’s 81-point masterclass.

But amid all the celebration of Adebayo’s historic effort, there are some who are putting the game under the microscope. Some are downplaying the 83-point night because it came against the hapless Wizards, a team that never stopped fouling Adebayo (Adebayo took 43 free throws and made 36 of them).

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka wondered how Adebayo, who is not one of the best scorers of all in the NBA, can score 83 – Which says a lot about the Wizards defense.

“The first thing you think of is, not because of him, but because of the way he played. I saw he only made six threes but 40 free throws or something like that, that tells the story right there… and the Washington Wizards,” Udoka said in his postgame presser via @big_business_ on Twitter.

Ime Udoka on Bam Adebayo’s 83-point night:

“The first thing you think about is how … not because of him but because of the way he plays. I saw he only made 6 threes but 40 free throws or something, that tells the story right there and … the Washington Wizards.” pic.twitter.com/PScqMKHBPv

– Ahmed/The Ears/IG: bigbizthegod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) 11 March 2026

(Contrary to what Udoka said, Adebayo made seven threes.)

Wizards’ defense was really suspect in Bam Adebayo’s 83-point night

Adebayo deserves all the credit in the world for all the buckets he made. He went 20-43 from the field and made 36 free throws. But how did the Wizards allow the Heat star to take so many free throws in the first place?

They couldn’t get possession on Adebayo all night, and even in the fourth quarter, they were hacking him almost every time they got the ball. Adebayo deserves all the praise, but the Wizards also deserve their fair share of jokers for their stellar defensive performance.

When Kevin Durant was asked about Bam Adebayo’s historic scoring explosion on Tuesday, he didn’t hesitate. The Houston Rockets superstar gave a powerful reaction after the Miami Heat center delivered one of the greatest individual performances ever in the league. Adebayo exploded for 83 points in Miami’s 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards, instantly rewriting the record books and sparking buzz throughout the NBA. For Durant, a player widely considered one of basketball’s purest scorers, the magnitude of the moment was clear as the Rockets star reflected on what the performance meant to the game.

As a result, the stunning explosion now ranks second on the NBA’s all-time single-game scoring list. Only Wilt Chamberlain’s famous 100-point game surpasses Adebayo’s, who surpassed Kobe Bryant’s iconic 81-point performance. Additionally, the key performance included sustained trips to the free-throw line, where Adebayo set a single-game record with 36 free throws on 43 attempts. As a result, the Heat rode that offensive explosion to a solid win over Washington, while the wider league reacted in disbelief at the historic statistical avalanche.

Durant, a four-time scoring champion, knows as much about getting buckets as anyone. The former 2013-2014 NBA MVP and two-time champion joined the Rockets in a blockbuster offseason trade from the Phoenix Suns and remains one of the most lethal scorers of all-time. His pedigree made praise for Adebayo’s historic 83-point performance Tuesday night echo across the league.

NBA on ESPN’s Vanessa Richardson

“Something we’ll always talk about.”

I asked Kevin Durant about Bam Adebayo’s 83 point game.

“Something we’ll always talk about.” pic.twitter.com/mRXm3XkBrY

– Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) 11 March 2026

The 37-year-old’s words reflected a league-wide reaction. When one of basketball’s greatest scorers approaches a performance with that level of reverence, it underlines the gravity of the moment. Adebayo’s 83-point masterpiece is now one of the defining achievements in NBA history.

Bam Adebayo made history Tuesday night. In the Miami Heat’s 150–129 win over the Washington Wizards, Adebayo scored 83 points – making an impression throughout the association. He now owns the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, and as a result, his accomplishment was being celebrated throughout the association.

Later in the night during the Indiana Pacers’ clash against the Sacramento Kings, the Kings’ PA announcer broke the news to the crowd at Golden1 Center that Adebayo had actually recorded 83 points. When Pacers forward Pascal Siakam, who is not on the active roster for tonight, heard the news, he was absolutely shocked Like the rest of the NBA world.

Via Tony East of Forbes Siakam was seen saying, “No way, brother.”

Awesome content: https://t.co/VlbSM4wliw pic.twitter.com/Q8hWujsg4n

– Tony East (@TonyREast) 11 March 2026

This is in no way a knock on Adebayo’s skill level. But he’s a career-high 16 points per game scorer, averaging nearly 19 points per night this campaign, and he’s only scored more than 40 points once in his career before tonight, which came in 2021 (a 41-point night against the Brooklyn Nets).

This makes him an unlikely player to score 60 or 70, let alone 83 points to surpass Kobe Bryant for the second-highest scoring game in league history. And the Pacers star is sharing the shock everyone felt after Adebayo’s crazy night.

Heat’s Bam Adebayo makes the most of perfect storm vs. Wizards

It helped a lot that the Heat faced a team that was deliberately trying to lose to tanking the Wizards. That team is looking to secure a top-eight finish, so they are being very cautious about their key players’ minutes.

Whatever the case, Adebayo still had to make all those buckets and free throws, and that’s exactly what he did. He deserves full credit for his achievement, which will be talked about for years to come, if not eternity.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is on social media after Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo went out for an astonishing 83 points on Tuesday.

Adebayo scored in a 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards and broke Lakers icon Kobe Bryant’s record for the second-highest scoring game in league history.

While many were celebrating Adebayo’s historic accomplishment, some also mocked James, saying he had predicted a career night for the Heat star.

To recall, James once said in an interview that he knew Bryant was going to explode that night when he scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2006.

@CookedByMatt said, “LeBron predicted Bam’s 83-piece.”

@MrEggyWeggy said, “LeBron called it! He predicted this performance earlier today.”

@iam_johnw echoed, “LeBron will come out and say he predicted Bam’s 83-point game.”

@Jasonb9990 wrote, “I’m sure LeBron predicted this before the game even started.”

“Do you guys think LeBron predicted Bam’s 83 points?” asked @artoftheleague.

@realhenryobrien posted, “Since the Lakers haven’t hinted yet, LeBron can say he watched the Heat-Wizards game and predicted Bam would score 83 points.”

James probably didn’t anticipate that he would be the butt of jokes on Tuesday. They should blame Adebayo.

The three-time All-Star, James’ teammate on Team USA, finished with 20 of 43 field goals and 36 of 43 free throws on what was arguably the most random night in league history. Even Nostradamus with advanced analytics couldn’t have predicted Adebayo’s 83-point special.

Well, perhaps the best way for James to counterattack is to score 84 points when he returns to action.

Tuesday night was one to remember for Bam Adebayo — and some of those closest to him watched it live.

Among them is none other than his mother Marilyn Blount, who shared a heartwarming moment with her son after his incredible scoring performance in the Heat’s 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards at the Kasia Center in Miami.

Amidst the celebration on the court, Adebayo’s mother walked over to her son and the two hugged each other.

Bam Adebayo and his mom hug after scoring a historic 83 points in a game they’ll always remember.

❤️ ❤️ pic.twitter.com/1x9E0jPqra

– SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) 11 March 2026

There’s probably no one more proud of what Bam Adebayo has accomplished than his mother, who has always been there to support the former Kentucky Wildcats star.

Adebayo and his mom have really come a long way. They lived together in a single-wide trailer, and in 2020, Adebayo gave his mother a new house on her birthday.

“My mom never had anything she could call her own,” Adebayo said at the time (via ESPN ).

“So growing up, to be able to do something different with basketball and be a special player, it was something that was always in the back of my mind, I always wanted to do. And to have the opportunity to do that for my mom is an incredible feeling.”

Against the Wizards, Adebayo recorded the second-highest scoring performance in a single game in NBA history, as he led Washington to 83 points. He shot 20 for 43 from the field and hit seven 3-pointers, while shooting 36 for 43 from the free-throw line. Adebayo added nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks in 42 minutes.

The entire NBA world is stunned by Bam Adebayo’s historic scoring in the Miami Heat’s 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. Adebayo, who entered the night averaging just under 19 points per game, made it his goal to destroy the Wizards’ defense. Buoyed by 31 points in the first quarter, the Heat star finished with 83 points on the night – surpassing Kobe Bryant’s 81 points, becoming the proud owner of the second-highest single-game scoring tally in NBA history.

Adebayo was brilliant from the start and the Wizards defense stood no chance. And by carving his name in the record books, he caught everyone’s attention — including Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who reacted to Adebayo’s epic scoring night with a post on his official X account.

“Bam bam bam 💥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥,” James wrote.

It’s the kind of scoring performance that leaves anyone speechless, and as for James, he can only celebrate Adebayo’s historic effort using the onomatopoeia of the Heat star’s nickname. And at this point, words can’t even explain how unlikeable this game was.

Heat star Bam Adebayo shocked the NBA

Adebayo can score the Rock, and he has stepped up his game so much that he has become a comfortable scorer at all three levels. But no one expected him to surpass Bryant and become second in the list of highest-scoring games in NBA history.

The Heat star’s previous career high was 41 points in a game – in one game, he doubled that number and then some. He is averaging 16 points per game in his career. The Wizards were triple-teaming him from the backcourt. But none of that mattered, because Adebayo just had a laser and was automatic for stretches.

Congratulations to Heat Star for this wonderful achievement.

When the Miami Heat lost to the Philadelphia 76ers on February 26, Bam Adebayo expressed his disappointment in competing regularly in the NBA Play-in Tournament. Since that difficult admission, he has been doing everything in his power to get the team into the real playoffs. The three-time All-Star is on par in March and Miami is following suit. Adebayo soared to historic highs Tuesday night, temporarily forcing fans to revisit one of the NBA’s most beloved records.

The 28-year-old big man scored 31 points in the first quarter against the Washington Wizards, making 10 of 16 shots from the field and draining five 3-pointers. According to Zachary Weinberger of ClutchPoints, he was on pace to surpass Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point performance, an immortal feat that has stood as a benchmark for more than 60 years. Adebayo slowed down in the fourth quarter, but still went into halftime with an excellent 43 points. Miami led 76–62 at the break.

The Heat are in position to capture their sixth consecutive win on Career Night. When the team and fan base need him most, Adebayo is carrying himself like a true captain. People are applauding Tuesday’s monstrous effort.

“King of 305!!” @julialipsett announced on x. “If this continues he will get drug tested,” @Yo_Dee93 commented. “

MIAMI – The Miami Heat have an important week ahead as they aim to avoid the play-in tournament, with Sunday’s big 121-110 win over the Detroit Pistons one of many impressive stories. In the team’s win over the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons, Heat captain Bam Adebayo earned a team-high scoring milestone held only by Dwyane Wade.

After Adebayo recorded 24 points on Sunday evening, it marked the big man reaching over 10,000 career points with Miami, only the second time a player from the franchise has accomplished such a feat, other than Wade. While Wade is firmly No. 1 in that category with 21,556 points, Adebayo’s 10,001 puts him in second place, already overtaken by Alonzo Mourning with 9,459 points.

Adebayo talked about the milestone after the win over Detroit, putting into perspective not only how he has improved and how long he has been with Miami, but also how he was drafted, which is known for its defense.

“Man, it means a lot to have us play defense somewhere, and everyone is thinking I was just a big threat, but it just shows the evolution of my game,” Adebayo said. “Obviously, this organization believes in me. I’ve been here so long that I can get to the 10k with the same team, and obviously getting into the history books with someone like D-Wade. So it’s a big accomplishment. I’m happy I even got to the W, and it’s a fun win for us.”

Bam Adebayo on scoring 10,000 career points:

“It means a lot. Coming from a guy who was drafted to play defense…to be in the history books behind a guy like D-Wade, that’s a huge accomplishment…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/0CphU4kDHS

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 9 March 2026

For his 24 points, Adebayo shot 7 of 17 from the field and four of 10 from three-point range.

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra on Bam Adebayo’s milestone and its significance

As Adebayo is actually chasing Udonis Haslem’s Heat rebound record, which he is on pace to do, the main goal at this point is to lead the team to victory, with the team now on a five-game winning streak after the statement was released on Sunday. In addition to the 24 points, he would also record nine rebounds and six assists, while recording a +13 on the floor.

Along with Tyler Herro’s 25 points on Sunday, the Miami duo led the way to a collective win over the East-leading Pistons, but it can’t be said enough how important Adebayo is to the team, given his numbers on and off the floor. According to Screwball, Adebayo has a net rating of +12.1, which shows how well the team performs when he is on the court, which was mentioned by Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra.

“He has such competitive will and you can see it,” Spoelstra said of Adebayo. “The staff told me today he’s second in the league in on/off, which is all that matters. Is that all? No, like, you can find a stat for everything, but it shows his impact on winning. When he’s on the court, our defense is excellent, and our play is great. Now, when he’s off the court, it’s improving, you know, our guys are really trying to be there for our team in those minutes. Have been.”

Erik Spoelstra on Bam Adebayo reaching 10,000 career points.

Talked about his continued “competitive will” and how much he means to this team, talking about statistics on and off the court: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/3tUZodkaa5

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 9 March 2026

“But I think it’s also a credit to his competitive will and work ethic. He wasn’t necessarily known as a scorer; he’s worked for this special team and has shown a willingness to invest himself in it, his scoring is really important, and playmaking,” Spoelstra continued.

Adebayo looks to continue leading Miami as the team tries to extend its five-game winning streak against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.

After Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo expressed disappointment with his place in the Eastern Conference standings this season, he has something to celebrate, which was mentioned jokingly with Prime Video’s Udonis Haslem. Haslem, the Heat veteran who holds the franchise record for most rebounds in a career (5,791), will soon be tied for second in franchise history for most rebounds.

When Adebayo joined the squad for his postgame interview following Saturday’s 115–105 win against the Houston Rockets, host Steve Nash joked that Haslem was disappointed to see Adebayo take his heat. franchise recordAccording to NBA on Prime.

Nash said, “UD is so salty here that you’re going to pass him on the all-time rebound list with the Heat,” to which Adebayo asked Crews how close he was to surpassing Haslem.

Adebayo is 245 rebounds away from reaching Haslem’s franchise record.

“Sorry, OG,” Adebayo said. “I love you to death. I’ll give you the game ball if you want. But you know the record is mine, buddy.”

“You know the record is mine, buddy.”

Bam Adebayo says he will give @ThisIsUD Game ball the day he breaks UD’s franchise rebounding record ??? pic.twitter.com/XsbSG4Gr60

– NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) 28 February 2026

Udonis Haslem expressed zero interest in collecting Adebayo’s game ball when he eventually surpasses Haslem’s all-time Heat record, which he anticipates will happen before the end of the regular season. Adebayo finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds in Saturday’s win against the Rockets.

Dwyane Wade questions Bam Adebayo’s Heat claim

Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade questioned Bam Adebayo’s opinion on the Heat, who are considered a talented team beyond the play-in round of the postseason. Wade also addressed Adebayo’s speech during Prime Video’s pregame broadcast Discussing his team’s recent defeat.

“The same thing I asked Bam… Are you there? That was my voice note to Bam.”

Wade continued by emphasizing that results ultimately determine where a team stands in the hierarchy.

“Because men lie, women lie, numbers don’t lie. But I will say this, what Bam told me was – I think his disbelief and probably the team’s disbelief is due to them being first in overall pace, top five in scoring, top in defense so all the numbers are there. They have three guys now. [Norman Powell]balm, [Tyler] Heroes who have been All-Stars, so you also have guys who have talent. So, I believe there is some mistrust coming from that.

DeWade sent a voice note to Bam Adebayo regarding his comments on the Heat being better than a play-in team:

“Do you?… Because men lie, women lie, numbers don’t lie.”

(via @NBAonPrimeh/t @heatculture13)pic.twitter.com/cnd3NOtctw

– Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) 28 February 2026

Adebayo and the Heat responded with a 10-point win against the Rockets on Saturday.