Former NBA Star Calls Bam Adebayo's 83-Point Game "Not Legit"

Adebayo's historic scoring night has drawn mixed reactions from around the league.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 9:34pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat scored 83 points in a game against the Washington Wizards, the second-highest single-game total in NBA history. However, former NBA All-Star Gordon Hayward has criticized Adebayo's performance, calling it "not legit" due to the high number of free throws and three-pointers attempted, which are not typical of Adebayo's usual playing style.

Why it matters

Adebayo's record-breaking performance has sparked debate about the legitimacy of such high-scoring games, especially when they occur in games where one team is clearly outmatched. Some argue that these types of games diminish the overall competitiveness and integrity of the league.

The details

Adebayo scored 83 points, making 43 free throws and 22 three-pointers, which are not typical of his usual playing style. Hayward, who was on the court during Kobe Bryant's 60-point final game, criticized Adebayo's performance, saying it "feels like a pickup game" and that the high number of free throws and three-pointers attempted make it "not legit." Hayward also mentioned that with many teams tanking, it contributes to the perception of the game being less competitive.

  • Adebayo's 83-point game occurred on Tuesday, March 12, 2026.
  • Hayward shared his thoughts on the performance on Thursday, March 14, 2026.

The players

Bam Adebayo

A three-time NBA All-Star who plays for the Miami Heat and scored 83 points in a single game, the second-highest single-game total in NBA history.

Gordon Hayward

A former NBA All-Star who played for the Utah Jazz and was on the court during Kobe Bryant's 60-point final game. Hayward criticized Adebayo's 83-point performance, calling it "not legit."

Kobe Bryant

A legendary NBA player who scored 60 points in his final game before retiring.

Washington Wizards

The opposing team that Bam Adebayo scored 83 points against.

Milwaukee Bucks

The team the Miami Heat will play against next, after Adebayo's 83-point game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I don't think it's great for the league. It kind of feels like a pickup game when you're watching. And for him to shoot 43 free throws and 22 threes, when that's not what he does (...) and again, the Wizards too. With all these teams tanking, it kind of makes it feel not legit.”

— Gordon Hayward, Former NBA All-Star (Sporting News)

What’s next

The Miami Heat will play the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, March 14, 2026, in Adebayo's first game since his historic 83-point performance.

The takeaway

Adebayo's 83-point game has sparked debate about the legitimacy of such high-scoring performances, especially when they occur in games where one team is clearly outmatched. This raises questions about the overall competitiveness and integrity of the league, particularly when teams are perceived to be tanking.