There’s been a lot of discussion about him shifting from center to power forward this season following the Heat’s draft pick of Kel’el Ware in June. However, Adebayo isn’t concerned about his positioning on the court.
“To me, it’s position-less,” Adebayo remarked. “I don’t confine myself to a specific role like ‘I have to play the four or the five.’ It varies from game to game. Sometimes Kel’el will be playing alongside me, other times I might be on the court solo. It all depends on the game’s flow, pace, and our opponents.”
Adebayo is coming off a standout season, averaging 19.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, arguably the best of his seven-year career. He also recently secured his second gold medal with Team USA in Paris.
In a month, Adebayo will be playing alongside Ware, a 7-footer from Indiana who adds more size to the Heat’s frontcourt. Ware is known for his defensive skills, shot-blocking, and ability to offer some relief in the paint. Despite this, Adebayo is perfectly fine with playing either position.
“It’s whatever,” Adebayo said about playing center. “It’s not a love-hate relationship.”
It appears that the only one not making a fuss about his position is Adebayo himself. He remains focused on being effective wherever he is needed.
There’s been discussion about the Miami Heat becoming Bam Adebayo’s team this season, with some suggesting he should be the top option. However, what truly matters to Adebayo is securing the top seed.
Specifically, he’s focused on finishing first in the Eastern Conference standings by the end of the season. His main priority is winning games.
“The most important thing for me is winning,” Adebayo told Miami Heat On SI. “If Coach Spoelstra says, ‘You need to be the No. 1 option,’ I’m ready to take that on. But being the No. 1 option doesn’t necessarily mean taking the most shots. There are players like Lou Williams, who is a sixth man and often took more shots than starters.”
Adebayo is coming off a standout season where he averaged 19.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, marking perhaps the best performance of his seven-year career. After earning his second gold medal in Paris this summer, his primary focus is on leading the Heat back to the NBA Finals.
Having fallen short in both of his previous Finals appearances (2020, 2023), he’s less concerned about scoring.
“For me, being the No. 1 option means ensuring everyone is in the right position, at the right time, and keeping track of foul counts,” Adebayo explained. “It’s about being aware of everything, not just focusing on scoring.”
Adebayo returned from the Paris Olympic Games with his second gold medal, having played a key role in leading the United States to victory over France in the championship game. He is the first player in Miami Heat history to win gold twice.
Last season, Adebayo and the Heat were eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs by the eventual champion Boston Celtics.
Training camp for the Heat begins on October 1, with both veterans and rookies reporting. The team will once again train at the Bahia Mar in the Bahamas.
This season, the Heat have high expectations for Adebayo. He will lead the frontcourt alongside Nikola Jovic, while rookie center Kel’el Ware is anticipated to come off the bench to provide relief for Adebayo.
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