Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo entered Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals matchup against the Denver Nuggets just 14 points short of joining an elite group of players on an exclusive all-time franchise list that already has the names of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, and Chris Bosh. Adebayo managed to make it to that group right away in the first half of the game Thursday night, as he led the Heat in scoring after the first half with 16 points.
Moreover, he also became just the second player in Heat history to get to 1,000 points in the postseason before blowing a candle for his 25th birthday.
Via ESPN Stats & Info:
With his 14th point, Bam Adebayo became the 5th player in Heat history with 1,000 career playoff points. He joins Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Jimmy Butler and Chris Bosh. Adebayo joins Wade as the only players in Heat history with 1,000 playoff points at age 25 or younger.
As productive as Bam Adebayo was in the first half of Game 1, it's clear that the Heat are going to need even more from him if they are to beat Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. Guarding Jokic is already a tough assignment for Adebayo but he's also got to make Jokic work on the other end of the floor. In the first half of Game 1, Adebayo shot an efficient 8-for-13 from the floor, though, the Heat also allowed Jokic to complete a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists.
Bam Adebayo averaged 16.8 points and 7.0 rebounds in the first three rounds of the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
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