Bam Adebayo isn’t one to duck accountability, and on Friday night, he made it clear he knows he has to be better. After a pair of inefficient outings during Miami’s current road swing, the Heat big man owned up to the struggles that have crept into his game.
Through the first two games of the trip, Adebayo is shooting just 10-for-23 from inside the arc - a 43.5% clip that’s well below his usual standard - and he’s 0-for-3 from deep. Add in three blocked shot attempts, and it’s been a frustrating stretch for one of Miami’s most important players.
“I got to figure it out,” Adebayo said. “I don’t know about anybody else, but I’m accepting accountability.
I’ve got to be better. I’m letting my team down, and it’s going to shift.
Like I said, it’s going to shift. I’ve been through these times before.
A lot of guys go through it. We’ll figure it out.”
That’s the kind of leadership Miami leans on - not just in the locker room, but on the floor, especially when the offense needs a steadying hand. Adebayo’s ability to create from the high post, finish through contact, and anchor the defense is central to what the Heat do. So when he’s not at his best, it’s felt.
But while Adebayo works through his own rough patch, some of Miami’s younger pieces are stepping up in unexpected ways.
Rookie big man Kel’el Ware turned heads in Boston, pouring in a team-high 24 points and knocking down a career-best six triples. The performance didn’t come in a win, but it was another sign of his growing comfort at the NBA level.
“I’m just getting more comfortable out there,” Ware said. “Playing through the game, playing through the flow.”
And with Miami dealing with a short bench - only 10 players were available - another rookie got a major opportunity. Kasparas Jakucionis drew his first NBA start and didn’t waste the moment.
In 35 minutes, he posted 17 points, grabbed five offensive boards, and committed just one turnover. That’s the kind of efficient, high-energy performance that earns trust from a coach like Erik Spoelstra.
“What I will say is he’s here for a reason right now and not in Sioux Falls,” Spoelstra said, referencing Miami’s G League affiliate. “I was extremely pleased with his eight games in Sioux Falls.
Every game, he got in better game condition. He’s in superior shape, but also more confident.
He did things that contributed to winning.”
Jakucionis’ rise is a testament to the Heat’s player development pipeline - a system that’s consistently produced rotation-ready talent. His G League stint wasn’t just about logging minutes; it was about sharpening his game, building confidence, and proving he could hold his own when the lights got brighter.
Meanwhile, Andrew Wiggins continues to be mentioned in trade chatter, but he’s doing his best to tune out the noise.
“I try not to think about it,” Wiggins said. “I don’t really go on social media and search my name or anything that has to do with me, so I don’t really hear too much of anything, unless someone comes up and tells me.”
It’s a veteran approach from a player who’s been through the rumor mill before. While his name may surface in talks, Wiggins is staying focused on what he can control - his play on the court.
For the Heat, the road trip has been a mixed bag: a team leader searching for rhythm, a pair of rookies flashing real potential, and a roster still finding its shape amid injuries and rotation shifts. But if there’s one constant in Miami, it’s resilience - and with Adebayo leading the charge, they’ll be looking to turn the corner soon.