Promoted to captain of the Heat following the retirement of Udonis Haslem, Bam Adebayo has perhaps never been as much in his role as at this moment and undoubtedly the Heat have never needed him as much as in recent weeks. For what ? Because Jimmy Butler asked to leave and remains suspended by the franchise for a few days for this.
He who was still in training last year, at the same time, must now fully assume this role. For his teammates, especially the younger ones.
“Everyone needs someone to turn to, a voice. The one necessary when we are in the trenches and it is dark, when people are lost,” explains the interior of Miami at Andscape. “We need someone who still believes that we can win, that we have the weapons to do so. We cannot, for young people, throw away this season. I watch them because they are trying to make their mark, to exist in this league and the outside noise must not distract them. I have to get everyone on the same page. »
Not thinking about the Jimmy Butler file
The double Olympic champion has not been more impressive in terms of play and statistics since a month and the start of problems between Miami and Jimmy Butler (the star has only played two matches since December 20, 2024), but this are his words that carry more weight now.
“We are relying on him. He continues to carry us, as a leader, in the locker room, with his voice”confirms Tyler Herro. “He's always been like that for us but in the last two weeks he's stepped up a notch in that area. »
However, the situation is not easy for Bam Adebayo. On the one hand, he has never known another team than Miami and remains very complimentary whenever he talks about the Heat. On the other hand, her friend Jimmy Butler wants to leave her.
“We understand that, deep down, it’s a business and I’ll leave it there,” he comments. “He’s a friend of mine so I give him space, I let him handle his affairs. We are focused on our victories because, no matter what happens with him, we still have to play and win our matches. The best thing for us to do is not to think about this situation. »
| Bam Adebayo | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | MIA | 69 | 20 | 51.2 | 0.0 | 72.1 | 1.7 | 3.8 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 6.9 |
| 2018-19 | MIA | 82 | 23 | 57.6 | 20.0 | 73.5 | 2.0 | 5.3 | 7.3 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 8.9 |
| 2019-20 | MIA | 72 | 34 | 55.7 | 14.3 | 69.1 | 2.4 | 7.8 | 10.2 | 5.1 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 15.9 |
| 2020-21 | MIA | 64 | 34 | 57.0 | 25.0 | 79.9 | 2.2 | 6.7 | 9.0 | 5.4 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 18.7 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 56 | 33 | 55.7 | 0.0 | 75.3 | 2.4 | 7.6 | 10.1 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 19.1 |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 75 | 35 | 54.0 | 8.3 | 80.6 | 2.5 | 6.7 | 9.2 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 20.4 |
| 2023-24 | MIA | 71 | 34 | 52.1 | 35.7 | 75.5 | 2.2 | 8.1 | 10.4 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 19.3 |
| 2024-25 | MIA | 37 | 34 | 45.6 | 28.7 | 71.6 | 2.4 | 7.4 | 9.8 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 16.1 |
| Total | 526 | 30 | 53.9 | 25.3 | 75.3 | 2.2 | 6.6 | 8.8 | 3.6 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 15.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
