Bam Adebayo’s defensive résumé speaks for itself - All-Defensive Team nods, switchability that’s the envy of most bigs in the league, and a motor that never seems to cool off. But when it comes to his offensive game, there’s still a lingering sense around the league that there’s more in the tank.
That conversation picked up steam again during the Miami Heat’s 129-116 loss to the Boston Celtics, when former NBA player and current Celtics commentator Brian Scalabrine weighed in with a pointed take on Adebayo’s offensive ceiling.
“I always felt Bam could be more aggressive. He should be a better offensive player... It feels like he could average more points and more assists,” Scalabrine said during the broadcast.
It’s not an outlandish thought. Adebayo is currently averaging 18.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game - solid numbers, no doubt, especially for a player who anchors one of the league’s stingiest defenses. But for a player with his skill set - mid-range touch, face-up ability, and improving range - some wonder if he should be more than just a complementary scorer.
He’s cracked the 20-point-per-game mark just once in his career, back in the 2022-23 season when he averaged 20.4. That season offered a glimpse of what a more assertive Bam could look like on the offensive end.
And with Jimmy Butler sidelined, there’s a natural opportunity for Adebayo to take on more scoring responsibility. So far, though, the leap hasn’t fully materialized.
To be fair, it’s not all about scoring. Adebayo’s game has always been about balance - facilitating from the elbow, setting hard screens, diving to the rim, and making the right reads.
He’s not hunting shots just to pad stats. But when the Heat are searching for consistent offense, especially with Butler out, it’s fair to ask if Bam should be doing more - or at least trying to.
That said, his value to Miami remains undeniable. His defensive impact is elite - the kind that doesn’t always show up in the box score but is felt on every possession. Whether it’s switching onto guards, protecting the rim, or anchoring Miami’s zone, Adebayo is the heartbeat of the Heat’s defense, and that’s a big reason why Miami is still very much in the playoff mix at 15-13.
The Heat are still trying to find their rhythm after a bumpy start and a disappointing finish last season. If they’re going to make another deep run in the East, they’ll need Bam to keep doing what he does best - and maybe, just maybe, tap into that next gear offensively that so many believe he has.