Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo Getting Last Laugh At `Overrated' Critics

All summer fans were critical of Adebayo, even suggesting he be traded

So much has changed for Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo since the summer. 

At one time, critics said he should be on the trading block so the Heat could acquire stars such as Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell. Adebayo was also often called "overrated."

Bam is so overrated. I’d say they shoulda kept Precious but you know they wouldn’t be able to maximize him like we have. Raptors development team is OP

— jw0085 (@jw0085) June 28, 2022

Now, all Adebayo can do is smile. 

He has been the Heat's most consistent player, especially the past weeks when they needed someone to step up in the absence of Jimmy Butler. The Heat brass of Butler, team president Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra can say this: "I told you so." 

Bam Adebayo is so overrated…

— Swish (@TalkRaptors) May 30, 2022

The Heat made it clear in the offseason they had faith in Adebayo. They refused to include him in any trade packages during the offseason. In other words, they knew what they had. 

“He has reinvented himself every offseason,” Spoelstra said after last season ended. “Every year in the last three or four years he should have been considered Most Improved Player.”

Bam Adebayo is overrated.

— 𝕿𝖗𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖓❄️🇨🇦 (@IcyScottieV2) April 11, 2022

Riley and Spoelstra met during the offseason to brainstorm ways to better showcase Adebayo's talents. So far, it has worked. 

Adebayo is averaging 21.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists on 52 percent shooting. In the last seven games, he's drawn constant double teams because is averaging 26.8 points. 

Breaking: I have heard from sources that the Nets prefer to play the Heat in the first round rather than the Celtics. One anonymous player was even quoted saying, “The Heat are worst 1 seed I have ever seen. Jimmy can’t score and Bam is overrated.” Expect a Cavs win tonight!!

— Jerry Stevens (@JerryStevensNBC) April 12, 2022

As Butler said during last year's exit-interviews, "you can't put a cap and a ceiling on his talents and abilities." 

And it appears the best is yet to come from Adebayo. 

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Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat.

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