Bam Adebayo has defended his performance after scoring 83 points in a game, the second-highest ever in an NBA game. The Miami Heat player responded to critics who attempted to downplay his achievement earlier this week.
Adebayo echoed his head coach’s sentiment, dismissing the moralising of his accomplishment.
Adebayo’s Reaction to the Scoring Spree
Adebayo suggested critics should blame the Washington Wizards head coach. He questioned why he was allowed to go one-on-one for the majority of the game, until he reached 70 points.
“First of all, y’all are blaming me. You should be blaming that head coach. Get that first,” Adebayo said after the Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks 112-105. “I was not the one that let me go one-on-one the whole game until I had 70 (points) and then started to send a double (team). At that point, I had 70 with, what, nine minutes left to go in the game? You think I’m not going for it?”
According to Adebayo, the Heat attempted to create extra shots for him, intentionally fouling the Wizards. Washington also altered their defensive strategy, sending their entire defense his way.
‘Chasing Greatness’
Adebayo addressed what he called the ‘unethical part of basketball’. He referenced having 70 points with nine minutes remaining. Adebayo said that nobody in that situation would ask to be taken out of the game.
“If you are mad, I don’t care. Because a lot of people, they’re upset because if they did play, they never had a chance to get that close to chasing greatness. And if you get that close to chasing greatness, that’s the point of chasing it, so you can surpass it. … If you’ve been in the backyard, and you and a couple of your homies are playing 21, and you got 19, you’re not gonna get an easy look off.
Adebayo scored 31 points in the first quarter, 12 in the second, and entered the final quarter with 62 points. He ended the game with 43 free-throw attempts, 16 of which occurred in the fourth quarter.
Free Throws and Comparisons to Bryant
Adebayo addressed the focus on free throws, stating he doesn’t typically shoot 15 or 10 free throws a game. He claimed he was legitimately fouled each time he went to the free-throw line.
With just over a minute remaining, Adebayo made two free throws, surpassing Kobe Bryant’s 81 points to reach 83. Adebayo went 36-of-43 from the free-throw line, setting an NBA record for free-throw attempts.
“Some people going crazy, because they’re like, ’83 is 83, no matter how you get it,’” Adebayo said. “And some people are gonna say, ‘It wasn’t the way Kobe did it.’ And you start throwing that around, and I’m like, ‘Listen, I’m a Kobe fan.’
Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point performance remains the most points scored in an NBA game.
Adebayo stated he got close to Kobe Bryant’s record and would have tried to break it if he had 81 points and Bryant was on his way.