In the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks took Heat center Bam Adebayo out of games offensively by daring him to shoot mid-range jumpers.
Adebayo turned down open looks all series — showing no confidence in his shot — as the Heat were quickly swept out of the playoffs by the eventual NBA champions.
That series stands as the turning point in the 26-year-old’s career. Three seasons later, the two-time All-Star took 27 field-goal attempts against those same Bucks last week. The seventh-year center is averaging career highs in points, field-goal and free-throw attempts, showing consistent aggressiveness on the offensive end while providing DPOY-level impact on the opposite end of the floor.
There’s a reason Bam’s nickname is “No Ceiling.”
Adebayo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are the only players in the league shooting 50% or better on pull-up jumpers on at least four attempts per game. Bam is also averaging 1.15 PPP (points per possession) in isolation while shooting 56.7% from the field.
Adebayo said the evolution of his offensive game has been simple.
“Shoot the ball,” Adebayo said. “I feel like that’s been my evolution. Sounds very simple, but I came into this league as a defender. I’ve improved, I’ve gotten better. I’m not looking to go backwards.”
Adebayo is top five among all centers in drive points and is only passing out of drives at a 14.1% clip – down from 21% last season.
The mid-range shot that used to be his weakness has turned into one of the biggest strengths of his game. Bam leads the league in field goals attempted per game from the 10-14 feet range and is connecting on them 46.1% percent of the time. Adebayo is even more efficient from 15-19 feet, shooting 47.6%.
Adebayo has always improved from year to year since entering the league. But outside of the jump he made in 2020 — becoming an All-Star in his first full season as a starter — it’s been a gradual improvement. This year is different.
The offensive flashes have always been there.
But the consistent assertiveness on the offensive end hasn’t been — until now.
“He was just super assertive,” Erik Spoelstra said after Adebayo’s 31-point performance against Milwaukee. “That’s what we need from Bam. There’s no rest for him on the other end.”
On the other end of the floor, Adebayo is yet again one of the best defenders in the entire league. Bam is limiting opponents to 0.55 PPP as an isolation defender— the best mark in the league amongst players with at least 30 iso’s defended. He is also holding opponents to just 20% shooting from the field in the pick and roll and ranks in the top ten vs. ball handlers in drop coverage.
Adebayo is the definition of defensive versatility and is playing at an All-NBA level through the first quarter of the season.
The next step is sustaining it for a full campaign.
If he does, “No Ceiling” changes the Heat’s ceiling in a big way.
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