Recently extended by Miami for 163 million greenbacks over five years, Bam Adebayo is already one of the best interiors in the NBA at only 23 years old, he participated in his first All-Star Game in 2020 before helping the Heat to reach the NBA Finals at Mickey’s. Clearly, we will have to rely on this gentleman in the years to come, a gentleman who simply wants to make history. Yeah, just that!
The big decas, we know. Each year, before the start of the season, many of them let go behind the microphones, whether it is to create a buzz, to motivate themselves, or to show their determination. It’s a bit like an unwritten tradition. Often we roll our eyes and say to ourselves, ‘OK great, but come down to earth a bit’. And then sometimes, even if the statement seems very ambitious, we tell ourselves after reflection that it is not that far-fetched. That of Bam adebayo yesterday falls into the latter category. On Friday, the star-studded interior of the Heat effectively spoke via video conference and made clear its ambitions for the future (via ESPN).
“I really want to be seen, in a very long time when my career is over, as a Top 5 pivot or a Top 5 forward, I want my name mentioned every time in the discussion. I want people to remember me as such. I want to keep changing basketball. “
If we will not dwell on its potential all-time ranking in 15 years (we will update the Top 100 in 2035, do not worry), the end of the declaration deserves our attention. . “Changing basketball” is a great goal. The kind of objective that suits him well because the guy is not far from having a profile quite unique in the current League, a profile that can potentially advance the game and redefine indoor position, as, for example, a Hakeem Olajuwon was able to do in his time, among others. In an NBA that runs everywhere and where versatility is of paramount importance, Adebayo is the very symbol of the modern pivot. Do you remember the hours spent on 2K creating and developing a player with all the qualities needed to dominate the game? game ? Well, there is a chance that your avatar was similar to Bam’s profile. Of course, Adebayo is not one of these big men which today swing missiles from the parking lot, of course he still has a good margin of progress to score other than in a role of finisher, but otherwise, he ticks an impressive number of boxes. Not only does he have great athletic qualities that allow him to dominate despite a height not phew (2m06, for 116 kilos), but Bam especially offers a rare mix between a very precious defensive versatility and an ability to take the costume of point center in attack.
“I’m trying to change basketball. A pivot who plays on both sides of the field, able to pass the ball as I can, that makes the difference in a team. […] My nickname within the franchise is ‘No Ceiling’ [pas de plafond, ndlr.]. I don’t want to put limits on myself, I want to be the best player I can be and bring a title to the city. “
As his stats from last season (15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 interceptions) show, Bam Adebayo can impact the game in many ways. This opens up a plurality of offensive and defensive options for the Heat, which has managed to advance this ultra hard-working youngster to maximize his qualities today. Mobility, versatility, athleticism, game intelligence, great potential as a leader, constant intensity… this is a phenomenon that only asks to rise even higher. How far ? We will allow time to answer this question but we say to ourselves that he can become the two-way player latest, one that will become a point of comparison for future generations (which is already somewhat the case). If Anthony Davis currently has this status in the interior, Bam could well take a similar trajectory even if the two profiles are obviously different, especially in attack where AD is in another world in terms of scoring (28 points per game in Playoffs anyway eh). That being said, we can count on Bam to continue to progress offensively in order to become even more terrifying. And when that will be the case, the competition is likely to take very expensive.
Bam Adebayo is now about to start his fourth NBA season. After taking advantage of a bigger role last season to progress well to establish himself as an All-Star, he will be keen to justify his new contract and confirm the level displayed during the 2020 Playoffs, he who will return revenge after the defeat and the sores of the Finals. Something tells us that this mixture can hurt.
Text source: ESPN
