Jamal Murray has had games of 50 and 36 points for the Denver Nuggets in their series with the Utah Jazz. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 20.3 points per game to help the Oklahoma City Thunder knot the Houston Rockets at 2-2. Battling injuries, Anthony Davis has posted three double-doubles to help the Los Angeles Lakers to a 3-1 lead over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Yet the ex-Kentucky Wildcat who has had the biggest impact during these NBA playoffs inside the Orlando bubble is the 6-foot-9, 255-pound not-quite-a-foward/not-quite-a-center named Edrice Femi Adebayo, better known as Bam.
The Miami Heat rising star did a little bit of everything in leading Erik Spolestra's team to a 4-0 sweep of the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, setting up a probable matchup between the No. 4 seed Heat and the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks, who lead their series against the Orlando Magic 3-1.
"I can," Spoelstra told the South Florida Sun Sentinel when asked if he could recall having a player asked to do so much on both ends of the floor. "But I'm not going to mention the name. You guys can probably figure it out from there. But, yeah I have."
LeBron James, anyone?
Just don't tell that to Colin Cowherd, the Fox Sports talking head who said recently that Adebayo is "not close to a star" while incorrectly stating his averages as 10 points and eight rebounds. Cowherd needs a better research assistant. Adebayo was only one of two players to average at least 15 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, one blocked shot and one steal during the regular season. The other? Probable MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks. He was one of only six players entering the playoffs with averages of at least 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists. The others: LeBron, Giannis, Luka Doncic, Kawhi Leonard and Nikola Jokic.
In the sweep of Indiana, Adebayo averaged 15.0 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists. His 22 points and 11 rebounds helped Miami to a 124-115 win in Game 3. His 14 points, 19 rebounds and six assists helped the Heat close out he series with a 99-87 win Monday. Only Shaquille O'Neal (20 vs. Chicago in 2006) and Rony Seikaly (20 vs. Atlanta in 1994) have grabbed more rebounds for the Heat in a playoff game.
"He's one of the most dynamic, unique, impactful players in this entire association," Spoelstra said. "He will continue to get better because of his approach."
After the win, his old UK coach, John Calipari, couldn't help but take to Twitter to brag on both Adebayo and teammate Tyler Herro, another ex-Cat. Gym rats, Cal called them, saying, "They were the first to arrive and last to leave."
It has been a steady rise for Adebayo, who helped Kentucky to an Elite Eight finish in his one-and-done year of 2017. Drafted by Miami with the 14th overall pick, Adebayo averaged 6.9 points per game as a rookie and 8.9 last season, mainly as a reserve. He started all 72 of Miami's games in the regular season, earning All-Star honors, and was named one of three finalists for the NBA's Most Improved Player award. He also won the NBA All-Star Skills Challenge, an obstacle course testing shooting, passing and ball-handling skills.
Those who followed Bam at UK were not surprised he gave the trophy to his mother, Marilyn Blount. "It's because all she's been through and all the struggles she's been through," Bam said.
Nor does he plan on stopping. Consider this: At Kentucky, Adebayo averaged less than an assist per game, 0.8 to be exact. With Miami this season, he averaged 5.3 assists per game, prompting Associated Press writer Tim Reynolds to call him "the best passing big man in the NBA."
"Bam don't need no more confidence," teammate Jimmy Butler said. "Bam knows that he's one of the top players in this league. And he's only going to continue to get better because he works and he cares."
Said Bam, "The whole thing I took from this week: Leave it all on the floor."
