Farce isn't Bam Adebayo's 83 it's the reaction to it

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• Wham Bam! Adebayo's 83 points eclipses Kobe record

The farce of Bam Adebayo's 83-point record-breaking performance wasn’t that he passed Kobe Bryant’s historic 81-point benchmark; it’s been the reaction of fans and the American sports media in the aftermath of Miami’s 150-129 win against the Wizards on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 (AEDT).

ESPN’s Tim McMahon said: “He’s jacking up 3s triple-teamed! It was honestly just awful, hideous, disgusting basketball down the stretch. I never ever (x6) want to hear about Heat culture, professionalism, and all that crap again, because that was the most blatant stat-chasing I’ve ever seen! It was embarrassing for the Wizards and egregious for the Heat. I enjoyed the ethical 39 by Wemby more than I did the egregious 83.”

Adebayo finished 20-from-43 from the field, seven-from-22 from beyond the arc and an astonishing 36-of-43 from the free throw line — both attempts and makes setting new NBA single-game records — against former NBL Next Star Alex Sarr.

But it only takes one — there have been others — but three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams became the voice of reason in the ridiculous debate.

“Super impressive, super impressive,” Williams said.

“I got no complaints, I got no criticisms. Listen, when you subscribe to doing silly things, you play silly games, you win silly prizes. You know, Washington — they subscribe to trying to stop him from getting it.

“Look, like the 81 points were just trying to stop him from continuing to score the way that he was scoring.

“You know, we can make a case about the 36 free throws — those were legitimate fouls. They couldn’t stop them; they were fouling them. And he shot the free throws for it.

“I didn’t see a lot of flopping. If anything, a lot of those were supposed to be and-ones, if you ask my opinions.

“A lot of those fouls that he were getting — they were supposed to be finished because he was fouled in the act of shooting.

“A lot of those fouls, if you look at it, the first half when he had 43 in 19 minutes — a lot of that was just bully ball. Him putting his head down, either dunking on somebody, laying the basketball up or complete and-ones.

“And when they couldn’t stop him from getting to the rim, he made three-pointers.

“Now, was it his most efficient night once he realised he was scratching the surface of history? Of course not. Once you get that close to the fire, I’m going for it one way or another. I’m going for it — I’m gonna try to make history, you know.

“So look — if you’re playing a team that’s gonna triple-team you full court, that’s gonna deny you in-bounds, three-quarter court, and put three different guys on you, and switch everything and trap everything and try to stop you from getting a record — you’re entitled to do everything to continue to go and try and break that record.”

Another was Colin Cowherd: “Bam Adebayo scored 83 points last night. Everybody is attacking him. This is what we do in America. The minute there’s success we have to tear everybody down. 83 is 83. He’s an excellent basketball player. When Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points his team was fouling the Knicks to get extra possessions. When Kobe scored 81 against an awful Raptors team, the Lakers led by 15 with 4:30 left and Kobe scored another 11. Bam had 31 in the 1st! 62 after 3 quarters! It was totally legitimate! Every star in this league has had the chance to play the Wizards and they don’t score 83!”

Adebayo passed Kobe’s previous No.2 mark of 81 with a relentless four-quarter assault that left the Wizards with no answers.

“My mind is like, what would he (Bryant) say to me? Bam said.

“Cause I’ve always wanted to have a conversation with him. He’d probably say ‘Do it again’. But it’s just a surreal moment — being in the company with somebody you idolise growing up.”

And he was right. Here’s Kobe after learning a college player had 138 points in a game.

Former NBA player and now commentator Tim Legler also backed Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and Adebayo.

“I have so much respect for Erik Spoelstra,” he said.

“His obligation in that moment was to his player. If the game gets out of hand and now you legitimately have a chance to get a 70–80 point game, you’ve got to let that guy have the opportunity because you owe it to Bam, and Spo loves Bam very much.

“I do think it put Spo in a position where he had no choice but to let it happen — even though it probably goes against everything he believes about how the game should be played.”

“I came into this league as a defender and a lobber,”  Adebayo said.

“I really got emotional. It didn’t hit me until I hugged her (A’ja Wilson), and then I hugged my mom. Cause those two — and then obviously my trainers, Ronnie Taylor, Kevin Graves, even Caron Butler — those are the emotional moments.

“They’ve seen me at my lowest behind the scenes. They’ve seen me at the lowest, at the bottom of the bottom, trying to figure out how to really pick myself up.

“To have this moment and share it with all of them — it’s a pretty emotional moment. Like I said, I wish I could relive it twice. This is a special moment. It’s Wilt … me… then Kobe, which sounds crazy.”

Adebayo now holds the record for the second most points in a single game — 83 — and history will remember the number, not how he got there. As Magic Johnson said in 1984, when the Lakers and Larry Bird’s Celtics finally made it to the NBA Finals: “Let’s sit back and enjoy it.”

All-Time Single-Game Scoring Leaders (NBA)

1. 100 — Wilt Chamberlain (Wilt Chamberlain)
   Philadelphia Warriors vs New York Knicks — March 2, 1962
2. 83 — Bam Adebayo (Bam Adebayo)
   Miami Heat vs Washington Wizards — March 11, 2026
3. 81 — Kobe Bryant (Kobe Bryant)
   Los Angeles Lakers vs Toronto Raptors — January 22, 2006
4. 73 — David Thompson (David Thompson)
   Denver Nuggets vs Detroit Pistons — April 9, 1978
5. 73 — Luka Dončić (Luka Dončić)
   Dallas Mavericks vs Atlanta Hawks — January 26, 2024
6. 71 — Elgin Baylor (Elgin Baylor)
   Los Angeles Lakers vs New York Knicks — November 15, 1960
7. 71 — Donovan Mitchell (Donovan Mitchell)
   Cleveland Cavaliers vs Chicago Bulls — January 2, 2023
8. 71 — Damian Lillard (Damian Lillard)
   Portland Trail Blazers vs Houston Rockets — February 26, 2023
9. 71 — David Robinson (David Robinson)
   San Antonio Spurs vs LA Clippers — April 24, 1994
10. 70 — Devin Booker (Devin Booker)
    Phoenix Suns vs Boston Celtics — March 24, 2017