Miami Heat: Bam Adebayo Has That ‘Thing’ To Be A First Option NBA Superstar
Averaging 22.8 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.8 assists (below par for him, but great for his own aggression in some aspects) on nearly 60 percent shooting from the field and on just over 16 attempts per game, Bam Adebayo has become something and someone else for his Miami Heat.
This isn’t a complaint though, as that’s who they need him to be all the time and who he needs to be in order for both entities to reach their full individual and collective potentials. This isn’t a coinkydink though, as he made note of it himself after the Boston Massacre.
Per basketball writer, Wes Goldberg, here’s what happened after one of their most terrible defeats in recent memory.
"It was the last night of January and the Heat had gotten rolled by the Celtics by 30 points. Sure, they were without Jimmy Butler (ankle) and Kyle Lowry (personal reasons), but Adebayo felt as though he had let his teammates down. “He didn’t take it well,” said assistant coach Malik Allen over the phone. “He took it personal.” The issue? Adebayo had attempted only 11 shots in his nearly 32 minutes, as many as two-way contract player Caleb Martin. The team’s lone available star, Adebayo played more like a role player, and he knew it. And it gnawed at him. After all, over his five NBA seasons he’s been trying to work this lack of aggression out from his game."
This is what you’ve always wanted from Bam Adebayo.
That goes, not only, for his showing on the floor but this mentality described above. Not that you ever thought it didn’t, being the uber competitor and ultimate try hard in a good way that he is, but it never reflected in his own aggression or good selfishness on the court.