Trending Now - Critics Question Legitimacy of Bam Adebayo's 83-point Game
WHO:
Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat star
Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat head coach
Doris Burke, ESPN commentator
Chris Russo, ESPN personality
Milwaukee Bucks, opposing NBA team
WHAT:
Bam Adebayo scored 21 points on March 12th, 2026, on 8-of-20 shooting against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Pelle Larsson contributed 28 total points in the game on March 12th, 2026.
Adebayo's 21 points extended his streak of 20-point games to eight, which is tied for the second longest of his career.
Bam Adebayo scored 83 points on March 10th, 2026, against the Washington Wizards, the second highest in NBA history.
Adebayo's 83 points surpassed Kobe Bryant's 81 points scored in 2006.
Miami Heat defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 112-105 on March 12th, 2026.
Adebayo had 21 points on March 12th, 2026, marking the fewest points scored by a player after scoring 75 in the previous game.
Adebayo attempted 43 free throws during his 83-point game, making 36 of them.
Miami won the season series against Milwaukee 2-1.
WHERE:
The game on March 10th, 2026, took place against the Washington Wizards.
The game on March 12th, 2026, took place in Miami.
WHEN:
Bam Adebayo scored 83 points on March 10th, 2026.
Miami Heat played against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 12th, 2026.
WHY:
Gordon Hayward stated on March 12th, 2026, that Adebayo's 83-point game "kind of highlights how they’re already struggling" and feels "not legit."
Hayward expressed that Adebayo is "one of the best two-way players in the league at his position, but he’s not a scorer."
Erik Spoelstra defended his decision to keep Adebayo in the game to achieve 83 points, stating, "I apologize to absolutely no one. Period."
Doris Burke expressed discomfort with the tactics used to help Adebayo reach 83 points, indicating that the Heat hold Adebayo in special regard.
HOW:
Doris Burke noted that the Miami Heat committed intentional fouls and missed free throws to create more scoring opportunities for Adebayo during his 83-point game.
The Miami Heat committed intentional fouls and missed free throws to create more opportunities for Adebayo to score during his historic game.
(UPDATED March 13, 2026 07:15 UTC)
In last Monday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Bam Adebayo scored 21 points on eight-of-twenty shooting, while Pelle Larsson added 28 points to the team's efforts. Adebayo's performance marked his eighth consecutive game with at least 20 points, tying him for the second longest streak of his career. Meanwhile, Gordon Hayward commented on Adebayo's scoring ability, suggesting that despite being a top two-way player, he doesn't see him as a primary scorer.
--
(UPDATED March 13, 2026 05:26 UTC)
Bam Adebayo made headlines last week by scoring an incredible 83 points against the Washington Wizards on March 10, 2026, surpassing Kobe Bryant's previous record of 81 points and marking the second highest total in NBA history. Just two days later, the Miami Heat defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 112 to 105, with Adebayo contributing 21 points, the fewest he has scored after such a monumental game. Head coach Erik Spoelstra defended his strategy to keep Adebayo on the court for the record-breaking performance, while ESPN commentator Doris Burke raised concerns about the tactics used to support him during that historic night.