NBA players have been known to occasionally pad their stats during garbage time, allowing them to make their numbers look more robust in the box score. That occasionally includes a shameless and easy move, which is what happened during the Atlanta Hawks-Miami Heat game on Friday.
As the clock wound down of the Heat’s 122–113 victory over the visiting Hawks, Miami center Bam Adebayo had the responsibility to dribble out the clock on the final possession. But when Adebayo crossed midcourt, he just let the ball go with two seconds left, and Atlanta power forward Onyeka Okongwu casually grabbed the ball before the clock hit zero.
Okongwu’s move officially counted as a steal. In the process, he also gave Adebayo a turnover, his sixth of the game.
Okongwu officially got credit for a steal here + a turnover for Bam.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) December 23, 2023
Just going to slide in here excuse me dont mind me bye. pic.twitter.com/UzMYkwRhaB
Okongwu, a fourth-year pro from USC, has averaged less than one steal per game over the course of his career, so every steal matters when it comes to increasing that number. Miami didn’t seem to be bothered by Okongwu’s last-second steal, as Heat players shook hands with their Atlanta counterparts and moved on to the locker room.
Okongwu now has 12 total steals this season, thanks to a heads-up decision in garbage time.
