The Miami Heat’s big man has finally come into his own. The words “I need to be more aggressive” were words that Bam Adebayo would say last season.
This year though, he has taken his own advice and has been more aggressive. And frankly, it has made him into a top-twenty player in the NBA.
Adebayo should be an All-Star this year when you consider how well he has been playing on both sides of the floor.
Adebayo, over the last three games, has averaged 28 points and almost 10 rebounds per game.
The stat that jumped out to me the most is that he has been averaging over 10 free throws a game in those three contests as well. And getting to the free throw line that many times actually shows just how aggressive Adebayo has been this season.
But just how aggressive has he been? How can that be quantified with a number?
Bam Adebayo Has Finally Reached His Next Level For The Miami Heat
Take this number for instance. When it comes to some of the toughest and most physical baskets to get, he’s been among the best.
A monster scoring inside the paint this year, he’s found himself in the top ten of the category. He actually ranks sixth there at the time of publishing, only behind LeBron James, Zion Williamson, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, and Nikola Jokic.
Defensively, we all know how special Adebayo is but when Adebayo went up against the two-time MVP in Nikola Jokic this past Friday, he would do pretty well against him.
Though Jokic would eventually shake loose, as all great ones do at some point, it was nothing to the magnitude that he had been doing so in his previous eight games.
And because of showings like those, for a second straight year, Adebayo needs to be taken seriously in the Defensive Player Of The Year Award conversation. He can defend anyone on the court, as heavily publicized at this point.
And that’s all just what makes what he’s found himself capable of doing on the offensive end so much more special.
Consistently Aggressive Bam Adebayo Means Miami Heat NBA Finals Runs
He is destroying opposing teams’ centers over the past couple of games.
Going for 32 points, eight rebounds, and five assists against the Utah Jazz, who play big and at times, even with three seven-footers on the floor, Adebayo also couldn’t be stopped against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night.
And he’s doing it with versatility, getting to floaters, pick-and-pop jumpers, and attacking the paint for rim-crushing slams or only to use that fear to stop on a dime to shoot a jumper.
Los Angeles even put Paul George on Adebayo and he still got buckets. And even when he didn’t get the ball late in the fourth quarter, he was still making an impact by attacking the glass.
His two offensive rebounds led to two putback dunks. The point is that even when he didn’t get the ball—he was still being aggressive.
And that’s what it’s always been about for him, consistent aggression and assertiveness in whatever he was doing. And that’s how Bam Adebayo has finally found his next level.