Udonis Haslem isn’t far removed from the Miami Heat, and when he talks about one of the team’s biggest names, the message lands with extra weight.
On a recent episode of The Timeout with Dwyane Wade, the former Heat captain turned his attention to Bam Adebayo and Joel Embiid, drawing a sharp line between two elite big men who may share a position but not the same path to success.
“They are guys who are ultra-talented, superstar talent, but it’s got to start with the energy first,” Haslem said. “[Adebayo is] an effort-energy guy that has All-Star talent.
You’re not Joel Embiid. Embiid can go out there on one knee and get 30.
You can get your 30, but you have to bring that s*** every night.”
Haslem’s point was simple: Adebayo’s game is built on motor, not just talent. And that’s part of what makes the comparison with Embiid so interesting.
Both anchor their teams in the middle. Both matter in a huge way.
But the way they get there looks very different.
Adebayo, drafted No. 14 in 2017, has become a three-time All-Star, a six-time All-Defense selection and a Defensive Player of the Year finalist in 2023-24. He also owns the second-highest single scoring game in NBA history with 81 points.
Embiid’s résumé is on another level in terms of individual awards. Drafted No. 3 in 2014, he’s a seven-time All-Star, a five-time All-NBA selection, a three-time All-Defense pick, a two-time scoring champion and the 2022-23 MVP.
But Adebayo’s value shows up in a different way. He has been to the Eastern Conference Finals three times and the NBA Finals twice, while Embiid has not reached those stages.
The two also bring different physical profiles to the floor. Adebayo is listed at 6-foot-9 and 260 pounds, while Embiid is listed at 7-foot and 270 pounds, according to NBA.com profiles.
That difference shows up in how they operate. Adebayo brings more guard-like movement and versatility. Embiid has many of the same tools, but injuries have taken some of the explosiveness out of his game.
Still, both remain central to what their teams are trying to build. The Heat and the Sixers are chasing the same thing, and both stars are expected to be at the center of that push.
Embiid, despite the wear and tear, still has the ability to dominate like a force in the Shaquille O’Neal mold, only with more versatility. Adebayo, meanwhile, has played fewer than 60 games in a season just once, when he appeared in 56 games in 2021-22.
Miami and Philadelphia will see each other first on Nov. 25, and LeBron James is also likely to make the trip. That matchup could also be the final time he steps inside Kaseya Center as a player.
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