Miami Heat rookie Bam Adebayo impresses at Orlando Summer League
Many considered him a reach with the 14th pick, but Miami Heat rookie Bam Adebayo has been among the most impressive players at Orlando Summer League.
Bam Adebayo came strong out of the gates in Orlando Summer League. In his debut, he finished with a double-double scoring 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds (six offensive), three blocks, and two assists.
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Throughout the remainder of the game, Adebayo displayed a variety of offensive moves including post-ups, an elbow jumper, and a fade away jump shot. His footwork in the post was encouraging. And he played with a high motor for all 33 minutes he was in the game.
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Of course Adebayo’s debut was not flawless. He committed six fouls. In addition, he was a non-factor on the defensive boards, logging just four defensive rebounds. Ironically, despite being touted for his defense, Adebayo seemed a little lost on the defensive end. He was out of position and failed to box out on several possessions.
But Adebayo, after the draft, was lauded by Pat Riley for his work ethic and being coachable. He looked better defensively in Miami’s next game against the Magic and finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.
In his most recent game against the Pacers, Adebayo put it all together with a 29 point, 11 rebound game. He showed off an array of offense, including going to coast-to-coast after stealing the ball and finishing with a Euro-step. His play is causing others to take notice, as per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald:
"“He’s been impressive,” said one veteran scout for another NBA team who watched Adebayo’s 29-point, 11-rebound display on Monday against Detroit. “He’s extremely active on the offensive glass, very athletic. He can post up a little bit. He blocks a few shots. They are alley-ooping to him. His jumper is a little funny looking; it needs some more rotation. He’s not just going to be a defender; he’s going to be able to score.”"
In his final game against the Knicks, Adebayo finished with 13 points but struggled to shoot from the field, making just one of his 10 shots. Most of his points came from the free throw line (11 of 14). He also had just three rebounds and turned the ball over twice. Such is the struggles of a young NBA player. Every rookie will have his ups and downs.
In four games, Adebayo averaged 17.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 1.2 assists in about 30 minutes per game.
Next: Why Heat fans should be excited about Bam Adebayo
The Heat have to be pleased with what they are seeing from their first-round pick. He possess a variety of skills the Heat coaching staff can develop. At just 19 years old, Adebayo still has a lot of room to grow, and that’s encouraging.