Miami Heat legend defends Bam Adebayo, criticizes critics’ lack of basketball knowledge

Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem has his former teammate Bam Adebayo’s back, and he also has no patience for criticism.

Speaking on the January 1 episode The OGs On the podcast, Haslem defended Adebayo amid the All-Star center’s inconsistent season. Although Adebayo is averaging 16.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists, he entered Thursday with a career-worst 45.6 percent shooting percentage.

“People who watch basketball, people who don’t know s–t about basketball, often want to see the scores and think that’s the biggest part of it,” Haslem said, “and they don’t understand how much Bam does for our team in “both ends of the basketball court.”

Haslem described Adebayo as a “striker” given his versatility and ability to involve other players. Adebayo’s 4.8 assists are his most since he averaged 5.4 during the 2020-21 season.

“We really started the offense with all five guys,” Haslem said. “We can start any of those guys in the starting five, so I think (head coach Erik Spoelstra) likes having that flexibility.”

To prove his point, Haslem outlined a theoretical scenario in which Adebayo and Los Angeles Lakers big man Anthony Davis face off in the paint.

“You can have Bam start the offense at the top of the key and get Anthony Davis out of that basket,” Haslem explained. “That opens up the possibility of backdoor cuts and layups for different players to get to the basket.”

Adebayo welcomed the new year with an almost triple double in Wednesday’s victory about the New Orleans Pelicans. He made nine of 14 shots, totaling 23 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and three steals.

Some may be skeptical that Adebayo is headed for an offensive resurgence. Regardless of what the numbers say, it’s clear that Haslem still believes in the three-time All-Star.

“What he does for us… there’s only a couple of guys in the league that can guard one through five and really guard them and stop them, and he’s one of them,” Haslem said.

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Jake Elman serves as a Miami Heat contributing writer at SI. You can contact him at [email protected] or follow him on X @jakeelman97.