Bam Adebayo Fires Back at Heat Legend Dwyane Wade's Claim That Miami Lacks 'Buzz'

Adebayo responds to Wade's criticism with historic 83-point performance in win over Wizards

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo had a sharp response for Heat legend Dwyane Wade after dropping 83 points in a win over the Washington Wizards. Wade had previously criticized the lack of 'buzz' in Miami, but Adebayo's historic performance proved there was plenty of energy and excitement in the city.

Why it matters

Adebayo's 83-point game was the second-highest single-game total in NBA history, surpassing Kobe Bryant's iconic 81-point performance. The game carried extra weight as Adebayo's mother and girlfriend were in attendance to witness the historic night, highlighting the personal significance of his achievement.

The details

Adebayo torched the Wizards for 83 points, going 20-of-43 from the field, hitting 7 three-pointers, and an extraordinary 36-of-43 from the free throw line. He added 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in 42 minutes of play. The Heat cruised to a 150-129 victory, improving to 37-29 in the Eastern Conference.

  • Dwyane Wade made his comments about the lack of 'buzz' in Miami in a March 2026 episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq.
  • Bam Adebayo's historic 83-point performance came on Tuesday, March 11, 2026.

The players

Bam Adebayo

A star player for the Miami Heat who delivered a historic 83-point performance in response to Dwyane Wade's criticism of the city's lack of 'buzz'.

Dwyane Wade

A Miami Heat legend who criticized the city's basketball scene, saying it 'ain't alive no more' and lacks the 'buzz' it had when he and other stars played there.

A'ja Wilson

Bam Adebayo's girlfriend, a WNBA star who was in attendance to witness his historic 83-point game.

Marilyn Blount

Bam Adebayo's mother, who was in the stands to watch her son's record-breaking performance.

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What they’re saying

“Talking about ain't no buzz, and he wanted to be out. He 45, take your a** to the house. I don't know if he's trying to rile us up. But all that said, I feel like it's a lot of buzz tonight.”

— Bam Adebayo (profootballnetwork.com)

“Man, I wish I could relive it twice. Somebody had to pass me the ball. I appreciate coach for drawing up plays for me and I got it going tonight.”

— Bam Adebayo (profootballnetwork.com)

What’s next

The Heat will look to build on Bam Adebayo's historic performance as they continue their push for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The takeaway

Bam Adebayo's 83-point outburst not only silenced Dwyane Wade's criticism of the Miami basketball scene but also cemented his status as one of the NBA's elite players. The personal significance of the moment, with his mother and girlfriend in attendance, added to the significance of the historic achievement.