Bam Adebayo Explains How 83-Point Game Changed NBA-Wide Perception, 'You Have to Guard Me Now'
Bam Adebayo has long been revered for his defense, but he believes his 83-point outburst earned him some respect on offense.
The Miami Heat star said on the NBA Showtime that his historic scoring night changed the way other players view him.
"Now, when I step on the court, it's like, yeah, you have to guard me now because I can make seven threes in a game," he said. "I can get to the foul line… I think it's a different level of respect for my offensive game for sure. Some of the greatest players in our league has come through and not be able to do that. So to score 83 in a game is a big deal. I think it's changed how people view my offensive game."
When Adebayo scored 83 points, the second-highest single-game point total in NBA history, it certainly showed fans a new side of the center. He drained a career-best seven three-pointers and sank 36 free throws, the most in a single game in NBA history.
Considering Adebayo is putting up just 20.3 points and makes 1.7 threes per game, that kind of performance was completely unexpected from him.
While unexpected, Adebayo is hoping he can keep his status as an elite offensive player. He even said he wouldn't trade the 83-point game for a Defensive Player of the Year award.
"I don't know if I could at this point. That was a special brand of basketball to me," Adebayo said on NBA Showtime. "Obviously, that looks different to everybody else, but 83 points in a game has shifted everybody's mindset to how they look at me play now. It's like, 'Oh, he defends, but he's really a two-way guy.' To me, that 83 when you see that, it sounds ridiculous. It shocked people."
Since his 83-point night against the Wizards, Adebayo hasn't scored more than 32 points in a game, and he's had four games in which he scored fewer than 20 points, so he likely still has some work to do before he's fully known as an offensive weapon.
Still, having the second-highest single-game point total should at least earn him a bit more respect around the league.
