Opponent from Kobe Bryant's 81-point game slams Bam Adebayo's historic performance

Charlie Villanueva says Adebayo's 83-point game should have an "asterisk" next to it.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 7:26pm

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More than 20 years after Kobe Bryant's legendary 81-point game, Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo went two points better by scoring 83 points in a win over the Washington Wizards. However, Charlie Villanueva, who played for the Toronto Raptors against Bryant's Lakers in 2006, criticized Adebayo's performance, saying there is a "difference" in how he achieved the points and that it should have an "asterisk" next to it.

Why it matters

Adebayo's 83-point game has sparked debate about the validity of high-scoring performances in blowout wins, with some arguing that scoring a large number of points from the free-throw line diminishes the accomplishment. This highlights the ongoing discussion around how to evaluate and compare historic scoring feats in the NBA.

The details

Adebayo set new records for free throws attempted (43) and made (36) in a single game, while also knocking down 7 three-pointers and 20 total field goals. However, Villanueva argued that Adebayo's performance was different from Kobe Bryant's 81-point game in 2006, as the Heat led by as many as 28 points and the Wizards were intentionally fouling to allow Adebayo to reach the record, unlike the close game between the Lakers and Raptors when Bryant scored 81.

  • Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006.
  • Bam Adebayo scored 83 points for the Miami Heat against the Washington Wizards on March 11, 2026.

The players

Bam Adebayo

The Miami Heat star who scored 83 points in a game, breaking the long-standing record for most points scored in a single NBA game.

Kobe Bryant

The legendary Los Angeles Lakers player who previously held the record for most points scored in a single NBA game with 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2006.

Charlie Villanueva

A former NBA player who was on the Toronto Raptors team that played against Kobe Bryant when he scored 81 points in 2006. Villanueva criticized Bam Adebayo's 83-point performance, saying it should have an "asterisk" next to it.

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What they’re saying

“When we played Kobe, Toronto played the Lakers, it was a close game the whole way. They needed Kobe's 81 points. In Bam's case, (the Heat were) up by 30, 25 (points). (The Wizards) were fouling so he could get there to beat the record. It's not the same.”

— Charlie Villanueva, Former NBA player

What’s next

The NBA may need to consider how to properly evaluate and recognize historic scoring performances, especially when they occur in blowout wins.

The takeaway

Bam Adebayo's 83-point game has reignited the debate around how to properly assess and compare historic scoring feats in the NBA, with some arguing that the context and circumstances of the performance should be taken into account alongside the raw numbers.