Ex-NBA Star Doubts Legitimacy of Bam Adebayo's 83-Point Game

Gordon Hayward argues Adebayo's historic performance doesn't feel "great for the league"

Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:07pm

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Former NBA All-Star Gordon Hayward criticized Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo's 83-point game against the Washington Wizards, saying the performance doesn't feel "legit" and "great for the league." Hayward argued that Adebayo, known more for his defensive prowess than scoring, is not a natural scorer, and the high-scoring game felt more like a "pickup game" than an NBA contest.

Why it matters

Adebayo's 83-point game has sparked debate about the legitimacy of historic individual performances, especially when they come from players not typically known as dominant scorers. Hayward's comments echo concerns that such outlier games may not be good for the overall health of the league.

The details

Hayward appeared on ESPN's "Unsportsmanlike" show and said he was not impressed by Adebayo's record-breaking night, noting that the Heat center is "not a scorer" and that his 43 free throw attempts and 22 3-point attempts were uncharacteristic of his normal play style. Hayward believes Adebayo's performance highlighted the "struggling" state of the league and made the game feel more like a "pickup" contest than an NBA matchup.

  • Bam Adebayo scored 83 points against the Washington Wizards on March 11, 2026.

The players

Bam Adebayo

A Miami Heat center and three-time NBA All-Star known more for his defensive prowess than scoring ability.

Gordon Hayward

A former NBA All-Star who criticized Adebayo's 83-point game, saying it doesn't feel "legit" and is not "great for the league."

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What they’re saying

“Like, no disrespect to Bam, I think Bam is one of the best two-way players in the league at his position. But, he's not a scorer, right? So for him to break Kobe's record, I think it's just, I don't think it's great for the league.”

— Gordon Hayward, Former NBA All-Star

“I think it kind of highlights how they're already struggling; it kind of feels like a pickup game when you're watching. And, for him to shoot 43 free throws and 22 3s when that's not what he does? And again, like the Wizards too, for them to, like with all these teams tanking, it kinda makes it feel not legit.”

— Gordon Hayward, Former NBA All-Star

The takeaway

Hayward's criticism of Bam Adebayo's 83-point game highlights the ongoing debate around the legitimacy of historic individual performances, especially when they come from players not known as dominant scorers. This raises questions about the overall health and competitiveness of the NBA, and whether such outlier games are truly beneficial for the league in the long run.