Hornets Announcer Takes Petty Shot at Bam Adebayo's 83-Point Night Live On-Air

Charlotte's Eric Collins joked about Adebayo's absence, referencing his historic 83-point game against the Wizards.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 5:54am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

After Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo scored a career-high 83 points in a game against the Washington Wizards, several opposing play-by-play announcers have taken shots at how he accumulated those points. The latest is Charlotte Hornets announcer Eric Collins, who joked about Adebayo's absence from a game against the Hornets, saying "Maybe he has a sore shoulder from shooting all those free throws a week ago."

Why it matters

Adebayo's 83-point game has drawn criticism from some who feel he scored too many points from the free-throw line. This latest jab from the Hornets announcer is part of a growing narrative that seeks to diminish Adebayo's historic accomplishment.

The details

During a live broadcast, Hornets announcer Eric Collins commented on Bam Adebayo's absence, saying "Bam Adebayo, not in uniform, is out for Miami. They are calling it right calf tightness. Maybe he has a sore shoulder from shooting all those free throws a week ago." This was an apparent reference to Adebayo's 83-point game, in which he attempted a high number of free throws.

  • Bam Adebayo scored 83 points against the Wizards the previous week.

The players

Bam Adebayo

A center for the Miami Heat who recently scored a career-high 83 points in a game against the Washington Wizards.

Eric Collins

The play-by-play announcer for the Charlotte Hornets who made the petty comment about Adebayo's 83-point game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Bam Adebayo, not in uniform, is out for Miami. They are calling it right calf tightness. Maybe he has a sore shoulder from shooting all those free throws a week ago.”

— Eric Collins, Hornets Announcer

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing criticism and scrutiny Bam Adebayo has faced over his historic 83-point game, with some opposing announcers and fans seemingly unwilling to fully celebrate his accomplishment.