Bam Adebayo didn’t exactly rush to wear the captain’s label.
A resurfaced offseason interview caught the Miami Heat’s new official leader speaking plainly about the role he inherited ahead of the 2023-24 season, when the franchise turned the title over to him after Udonis Haslem retired. The three-time All-Star made it clear he never viewed himself as the guy who wanted that responsibility.
“I never wanted to be captain,” Adebayo said. “I been telling [Haslem] that.
I don’t want that. Wholeheartedly, I was like, ‘Nah, I’m good.
Let me go worry about myself.’ When I come to the job, I want to worry about me, then I’ll say a couple of words.”
Adebayo also described Haslem pressing him to speak up more, both in the huddle and with head coach Erik Spoelstra.
“Every day, [Udonis] was just like, ‘you have to say something in the huddle, you have to start talking to [Erik Spoelstra],’” Adebayo added. “I was like, ‘bro, will you leave me the f*** alone.’”
The 29-year-old has been in Miami since the 2017 NBA Draft, when the Heat took him No. 14 overall. He arrived after a one-and-done season at Kentucky and entered the league best known for his versatility on defense and as a lob threat.
President Pat Riley and the front office bet on his growth, and Adebayo has developed offensively over time. Early on, though, the leadership load belonged to others.
That was possible because Haslem held the captain’s role and Jimmy Butler’s playoff performances made him the face of the franchise in a different way. Adebayo, even as a six-time All-Defensive center, stayed more in the background.
Now the spotlight is far brighter. The Heat are 0-4 and one loss away from matching the worst start in franchise history since 2007. Last season, without either of those older veterans on the roster, Miami finished 43-39 and missed the playoffs.
Adebayo’s start has not helped quiet anything. He has never dealt with trade rumors or contract disputes, and the team has treated him well from a business standpoint, but the expectation now is that the investment starts to show up on the floor. Through four games, his scoring has been underwhelming, and in two of them he finished with fewer than 10 points.
Miami gets another chance Wednesday night against the Atlanta Hawks, with Adebayo positioned to shift the conversation. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. E.T., and the game will be televised on WPLG Local 10.
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