No NBA Rising Stars Challenge for Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo
Despite having a strong start to his rookie season, Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo won’t be playing in this year’s NBA Rising Stars Challenge.
The Miami Heat have much to celebrate when it comes to this year’s NBA All-Star Weekend.
First and foremost being the fact that Goran Dragic was finally selected to participate in the All-Star Game. Although it took a couple of injuries to get the veteran voted in, he will make his first ever appearance just the same.
"“I was really happy because this was my wish for a long time. As a kid, you’re always dreaming about those moments. And I put a lot of work in… it’s an awesome experience, a lifetime experience that I’m going to embrace and try to have fun.”"
The guard isn’t the only Heat player to represent the team this upcoming weekend though. Sharp-shooter Wayne Ellington will also be heading out to Los Angeles, to take part in the 3-Point Contest. The seventh Miami member ever to join the event, he hopes to become the fifth to win.
"“It’s a great individual accomplishment. I’m honored … I put a lot of work in to be one of the best 3-point shooters … I’m going out there to win it. Not just to go out there.”"
Still, much of Heat Nation feels that another worthy talent was left out of the All-Star festivities: Bam Adebayo.
Having started off his rookie season on a perhaps unexpectedly strong note, the center was not asked to partake in the Rising Stars Challenge. Averaging 7.3 points and 5.3 rebounds a game in 20.6 minutes of play, recently having to fill in for a sidelined Hassan Whiteside, it seems the 20-year-old should have been taken into consideration.
Instead, this year’s participants include the likes of Kris Dunn, Kyle Kuzma and Taurean Prince for Team USA, and Dillon Brooks, Frank Ntilikina and Lauri Markkanen for Team World.
"“I must have not done enough,” Adebayo said when asked about being left out. “But hey, I’ll get time to spend with my family and just move on from it. There’s always next year.”"
A mature reaction, no doubt, while teammate Udonis Haslem had a little more to say.
"“That’s crazy. I really didn’t see that coming. There was no doubt in my mind… That’s very unfortunate. It’s hard to understand what those things come down to. I don’t know how they pick it.”"
Despite the big man going overlooked, fans should nevertheless take pride in the Miami Heat getting a chance to showout in LA over the weekend, via Goran Dragic and Wayne Ellington.
Next: Miami Heat guard Derrick Jones Jr,: Then, now and what's to come
The events begin on Friday, February 16 with the Celebrity All-Star Game at 7 PM ET, followed by Rising Stars at 9 PM ET. The Saturday night events will take place February 17 at 8 PM ET, while the actual All-Star Game will air Sunday, February 18 at 8 PM ET.