The Miami Heat have been well-represented throughout the 2024 Olympics. Erik Spoelstra is an assistant coach on the staff, Nikola Jovic is playing for Serbia and even Dwyane Wade earned a gig on the broadcast. Former Heat champion LeBron James is still playing at a superstar level at 39 years old for Team USA, too.
But the biggest Miami figure at these Olympics is current All-Star and franchise cornerstone, Bam Adebayo. The reigning All-Defensive first-team big man has provided a strong two-way impact for the squad. In Team USA's recent win against South Sudan, Adebayo led the USA in scoring with 18 points and seven rebounds on 80% shooting.
Is it really time for the Miami Heat to turn the offense over to Bam Adebayo? Or does Jimmy Butler have something to say about it?
He has also continued to work on adding an efficient 3-point shot to his game, as he’s brought some valuable floor spacing ability to the squad’s second unit. Adebayo has steadily improved in subtle ways each of his seven seasons in the NBA.
His development as a star in this league has even caught some national media attention. ESPN's Ramona Shelburne recently expressed that the Heat should give even more offensive responsibility to Adebayo to get back into title contention next season.
"I think they need to give the keys to Bam Adebayo."@ramonashelburne on how the Heat can become contenders 👀 pic.twitter.com/wSFNXix5tL
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) August 2, 2024
"They need more scoring. Bam is capable of giving them more scoring. He can hit the 3 ball now, midrange, as soon as they start playing more through him that’s when this team really takes off."Ramona Shelburne
Shelburne could be onto something here. Adebayo is 27 years old, at the very beginning of his prime. He is already a pivotal part of Miami’s roster as the defensive anchor and still plenty of untapped talent on the offensive end.
Adebayo last season averaged 19.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists on 52% shooting across 71 games.
But as much as her take could make sense, Jimmy Butler is coming off another All-Star caliber year. Butler averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists on 50-41-86 shooting splits. He also shot a career-high 41% from 3-point range. The Heat were 7-1 in games that Butler scored 30 points or more. When Butler plays like a no. 1 option, the Heat win.
Shelburne made a good point by addressing Butler’s availability and commitment to the regular season. But at the end of the day, he is the guy who has led the Heat to two NBA Finals and an Eastern Conference finals in a five-year span. Unless proven otherwise, Butler, who turns 35 in September, has earned the reputation of being the top option in South Beach.
Unfortunately, it seems the national media has forgotten what he's capable of after his season-ending knee injury and postseason absence. Even at this stage, Butler is who makes the Heat contenders no matter what seed they are.
In the words of Pat Riley in his end of season presser, "Jimmy moves the needle the most.”