Bam Adebayo had an incredible week for the Miami Heat, and the NBA took note. He was named Eastern Conference Player Of The Week as a result.
It’s become a routine around here. A week after Jimmy Butler was named Eastern Conference Player Of The Week, the deed has been repeated. Bam Adebayo has been named this week’s Player Of The Week, giving the Miami Heat back-to-back winners of this award for the first time since Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh pulled it off in December of 2013.
In three games last week, Adebayo averaged 20 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. He played 38.8 minutes per outing and shot 61 percent from the free throw line.
Adebayo had two triple-doubles last week, with a 30 point, 11 rebound and 11 assist outing against the Atlanta Hawks, and an 18 point, 11 rebound and 10 assist game against the Dallas Mavericks. Both of these games were wins, as the Heat went 2-1 with the sole loss being a hard-fought defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers.
An All-Star appearance might be on the horizon for Adebayo, and he’s certain to be in the discussion for it. He has quickly and richly rewarded head coach Erik Spoelstra’s faith in him when he was given Hassan Whiteside‘s starting spot last season, making Whiteside entirely disposable.
So far this season, he’s averaging 15.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks in 33.8 minutes per game. He’s also shooting 58.4 percent from the floor. All of these are career highs, and he has responded to an increased workload with career highs in each of those categories in his per-36 minute play as well.
This won’t be the last time Bam Adebayo wins a Player Of The Week award, and it probably won’t be the last time he wins one this season either.