The Miami Heat have moved past one of the most challenging chapters in franchise history. Jimmy Butler has been traded to the Golden State Warriors and the 25-28 Heat will now look to end an eight-game tailspin during which they've won just twice.
If there's any reason to believe that Miami will right the ship and overcome the loss of Butler and the recent issues on the court, it's the resurgence of Bam Adebayo.
Through most of the 2024-25 season, Adebayo struggled to find the form that made him a three-time All-Star and five-time All-Defense honoree. It was one of the stories that perhaps flew under the radar on a national level, as the Butler drama inevitably took center stage.
In Miami, however, Adebayo's inability to play at the level expected of him has been a significant cause for concern.
Thankfully, the 27-year-old has taken a significant step forward in recent weeks. Not only is he beginning to play like the star that Heat fans know he is, but he's made progress in an area of his potential that was previously untapped.
The sample size is admittedly limited, but Adebayo is finally looking the part of the dynamic scoring threat that Miami needs him to be.
Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo making significant strides as a scorer
Since Jan. 25, Adebayo has appeared in nine out of the Heat's 10 games. During that time, he's produced averages of 22.4 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.2 offensive boards, 4.7 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 1.3 three-point field goals made per contest on .538/.414/.791 shooting.
Long known as a competent scorer, Adebayo has embraced a more aggressive mentality that should have Miami captivated by what this could mean moving forward.
Adebayo's standout performance saw him put up 30 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, three blocks, and two steals during a win over the San Antonio Spurs. It was one of his six double-doubles during this stellar nine-game stretch.
It was also one of the six games during which Adebayo scored at least 20 points over the past nine outings, which may be the biggest development of all.
Adebayo had scored at least 20 points in just 11 of his previous 42 appearances. Considering he's more than halfway to matching that mark in a mere nine games, it's fair to say that this is a remarkable display of progress in both mentality and execution.
During the nine-game stretch, Adebayo attempted 16.5 field goals per appearance—a drastic increase from the 13.2 he averaged during his first 42 outings.
If Adebayo maintains this new level of aggressiveness as a scorer, the rest of what the Heat do on offense should round into form. He's one of the most skilled big men in the Association, and his willingness and ability to create for others only stands to benefit from a more thorough approach to scoring.
History might suggest that Adebayo will regress to the mean, but with Butler out of Miami, the opportunity exists for the 27-year-old to become the player fans have been waiting for him to be.