Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo will be making his second appearance in the Olympics as a part of Team USA where they will battle for another gold medal in Paris this summer. Adebayo spoke to the media Thursday to talk about the upcoming national event and his expectations for it as he even said that this iteration has “the potential to be one of the best teams that's been in the Olympics” for USA.
“I think we have the potential to be one of the best teams that’s been in the Olympics on the side of the USA squad,” Adebayo said. “… For us, it’s keeping the main thing the main thing and that’s winning the gold medal.”
Adebayo speaks about what he learned from his first time at the Olympics
Joining the Heat center is a star-studded team filled with the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker, Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, and Tyrese Haliburton. Adebayo was a part of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that won the gold medal as he spoke to ClutchPoints about what he learned from that experience with the main component being that “it's not about yourself.”
“I mean, going into it, it's not about yourself,” Adebayo said. “The biggest thing is bringing US a gold as you're not doing it just for a city or region you are doing it for a country and to understand that, you get outside yourself and everybody kinda let's their egos out and really focusing on that. It doesn't matter who scores the most, doesn't matter who rebounds, at the end of the day, you get a gold medal for your country.”
Adebayo's journey with Heat and being with Erik Spoelstra for Olympics
The 26-year old has had an already eventful offseason where he is set to receive a three-year, $166 million contract extension from Miami once the window opens for him to sign according to reports. Adding that with a special trip to represent USA made Adebayo reflect on his journey being with the Heat the past seven years, especially since he will be at the Olympics with his head coach in Erik Spoelstra.
“Being here seven years going on eight has just been nothing but love,” Adebayo said. “Obviously, not only from the fans, but from the organization as a whole. They took a chance on a kid who people didn’t think was that good. To turn around and see where I am now kind of puts it in perspective for me, the organization and a lot of people who doubted us.”
“Having my coach there to be a part of this is special,” Adebayo continued. “I feel like Spo, if we do win, I feel like he should get his own special banner just because it’s his first one. I feel like it’s a great opportunity for him to be a coach that has won a gold medal.”
For Team USA, they will have a training camp starting July 6 and five exhibition games beginning on July 10 against Canada before the Olympics start on July 28 against the Serbian national team. As for the Heat, they are looking to improve after a 46-36 record which put them at the eighth seed for the second straight season as they were eliminated in the first round by the Boston Celtics.
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