Heat superstar primed for another breakout season: Here's why

While improvement often comes from external sources, the Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo is a beacon of hope for a potential internal turnaround this year. His performance this summer with Team USA is a source of anticipation, showing glimpses of his potential that we have yet to fully witness in a Heat jersey.

The 27-year-old is entering his eighth season in the NBA and may reach a new level this season. As a core member of Team USA, who face Puerto Rico in their final Olympic group play game on Saturday (11:15 ET), the three-time All-Star is showcasing his scoring abilities beyond the paint. If Team USA’s 103-86 win against South Sudan indicates what's to come, the Heat superstar could produce at a whole new level next season.

Bam Adebayo incorporating the three-point shot, as he has with Team USA, could take his game to another level with the Miami Heat next season.

Adebayo led all scores for Team USA in Wednesday’s victory with 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting and two for three from beyond the arc. Bam’s massive improvement in shooting has given the Heat hope that he can take the next step and become an All-NBA player.

After agreeing on a three-year maximum contract extension worth $166 million this offseason, Bam will look to continue developing his three-point shot for the Heat next season. As Jimmy Butler turns 35 in September, Adebayo must continue improving his game so the Heat can remain a threat in the improved Eastern conference this season.

Prior to the conclusion of last season, Adebayo started to make three-point shots. He made more than double the number of threes (17) than he made in his first six seasons alone (6). Sixteen of those 17 threes came in the last 23 games he played this season, making around 42% of them.

Adebayo’s three-point shooting is not just a personal skill but a strategic move that Miami should utilize, as it will stretch the defense and allow him to beat defenders one-on-one with the dribble. This will also enable him to use his excellent passing ability, significantly impacting the Heat’s offensive game plan.

Adebayo’s shooting will not only help his game but allow others to flourish. With Bam shooting threes, it can open up the floor for guys like Butler, Terry Rozier, and more to attack the rim. It also allows the Bam and Duncan Robinson handoff action to become that much harder to guard, with Bam being able to pop off that action.

It can also open the opportunity for other big men, such as rookie center Kel’el Ware, to share the floor with Adebayo and give the Heat more size.

Bam has improved nearly every season of his career since he entered the league in 2017 but as he begins to enter his prime, it feels like a massive jump may be imminent. The Heat will need it and we shall see what happens, but the development of Bam’s three-point shot is a promising sign that Heat fans should look forward to next season.