Originally the 14th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Bam Adebayo showed flashes of his potential during the 2017-18 NBA season. In 69 appearances including 19 starts, the 20-year-old averaged 6.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks in 19.8 minutes.
After the Miami Heat were eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round, Adebayo reflected back on his rookie season. When asked about which position he prefers playing, he had the following to say according to Anthony Chiang of The Palm Beach Post:
“Man, I’m a basketball player, pretty much,” Adebayo said when asked if he sees himself as a center or power forward. “I just go out there and do what I got to do with this team. Whatever coach needs me to do, I do.”
When asked about what stands out about his rookie season, Adebayo mentioned Dwyane Wade's return:
“The experience,” Adebayo said of what stands out about his rookie season “We had a great group of guys. We went out there and fought for each other like we were really brothers and we developed a brotherhood, D-Wade coming back and he just helped us from there. And with [Udonis Haslem], they’ve been to three championships, so they know what it’s like. So for us to go out like this … speechless. But I had a great time just being beside U.D., D-Wade and all my teammates. I had fun this year.”
Heading into the offseason, it will be interesting to see how Adebayo's potential factors into Hassan Whiteside's future with Miami. After signing Whiteside to a four-year, $98 million contract extension in 2016, he has grown frustrated with his role, highlighted by the first round series against the Sixers. In five games, the 28-year-old averaged 5.2 points and 6.0 rebounds in just 15.4 minutes.
Along with Whiteside, all the attention is on Wade's future. After being acquired at the trade deadline, Wade is currently not ready to make a decision about retirement.
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