Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo is capitalizing on an opportunity to learn as much as he can in the pros during his first year in the league. That’s apart from just sitting on the bench and watching the game from the sidelines, as he is now relishing the significant bump in minutes afforded to him by Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra due to the absence of Hassan Whiteside because of a knee injury.
Last Friday, Adebayo jotted down some notes mentally as he made just his fifth career start and went to battle with Charlotte Hornets big man and possible future Hall of Famer Dwight Howard.
Bam Adebayo made a good account of himself in the matchup. Although he scored just one point, he did a good job in containing Howard, who struggled throughout the contest, finishing with just 10 points and nine turnovers. Howard definitely felt the presence of Adebayo, but instead of giving props to the rookie’s play, the former No. 1 overall draft pick chose to compare the way he looks to that of Adebayo’s after the Heat got the win, per Anthony Chiang of the Palm Beach Post.
After Friday’s game, Howard walked over and gave Adebayo a hug. Howard, 31, told Adebayo that they look alike, something Adebayo has heard for years.
“He thinks I’m like his little brother,” Adebayo said. “I guess people think we look alike, I don’t see it. But we got the utmost respect for each other, so you know it’s competitors competing.”
So Dwight Howard.
Bam Adebayo, however, has a long way to go to catch up on Howard’s accomplishments on the court.
The Heat center is averaging just 4.9 points and 4.0 rebounds in 14.7 minutes per game this season, but the unavailability of Whiteside of late opened up room for some extra minutes for the former Kentucky Wildcat. Adebayo has averaged 9.7 points and 5.4 rebounds on 22.6 minutes per contest over the Heat’s last three games.
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