CHICAGO – If ever there was a moment that shows how NBA life comes at you fast, this was it.
One minute Bam Adebayo is celebrating a walkoff, game-winning shot Saturday night against the San Antonio Spurs, the next minute the Miami Heat big man is on social media in disbelief that the Dallas Mavericks had just traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis.
So, no, little reflection beyond the Heat’s inner circle when it came to Adebayo’s 19-foot pull-up jumper lofted with seven-tenths of a second to play in the Heat’s 105-103 victory at the start of this four-game trip that continues Tuesday night against the Chicago Bulls.
But, still, Adebayo’s third career walkoff game winner, one more than LeBron James produced in his four seasons with the team, one more than currently suspended Heat teammate Jimmy Butler.
And the confidence of teammates and a coaching staff to turn in his direction a scant two days after Tyler Herro was named the team’s lone 2025 NBA All-Star.
“As a kid,” Adebayo reflected afterward, “you always dream of moments like that, in the backyard, ‘Three, two, one. Buzzer.’ And it just so happened that I’ve had a couple of those in my career.
“Being able to be in those situations and to actually get the job done is a great feeling, because my teammates and my coaches trust me to get the job done.”
Seemingly there was no other choice on a night Herro struggled through 4-of-16 shooting, including 0 for 8 on 3-pointers, his franchise-record streak of games with at least one 3-pointer ending at 79.
Seemingly there was no other choice on a night Adebayo would close with 30 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, three blocked shots and two steals.
“I mean, the best part about it is the reaction from everybody,” coach Erik Spoelstra said of what turned into the type of mob scene typical after one of Dwyane Wade’s franchise-record five such walkoff winners. “Because Bam has been pure, steady this entire season. There’s been a lot of things, but he has been the rock of stability for us and he did all the big-muscle things tonight, defended basically one through five.
“But then also playing at the five, doing the rebounding. I was shocked he didn’t have a triple-double. It felt like he had the assists. But then the clarity of on the road, we needed a place where the ball could go and he was very efficient whether we were going to him in the post or the elbow area.”
It was from that elbow area, just to the left of the foul line, a bit further out, where Adebayo drained his 13th and final basket of the night.
“We drew it up,” said guard Terry Rozier, who backed up Adebayo’s effort with 19 points, the only other Heat player with more than 14. “He had it going all night. We got to feed him, feed our captain. A walk-off, game winner, so I’m happy for him. Just build on the win, that’s the most important thing.”
The reality is the ensuing jubilation would have stood as something far different had Adebayo’s jumper not lifted the Heat to 24-23, considering the Spurs were without sidelined big man Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio was playing on the second night of a back-to-back, while the Heat had been idle the previous two days.
But amid Butler’s third suspension of the season, one that will have him out at least through the end of this trip that wraps up Friday night against the Brooklyn Nets, this was a needed win and needed moment.
“It’s always easy to say something after the ball goes in,” Spoelstra said when asked if the final play went as scripted. “I’m just really happy for Bam. He got to a clean look. He got to his spot and was able to elevate. It was just a beautiful look. To see it floating in the air and then you see the clock go, that’s got to be a great feeling for him.”
So to cap a week when Herro got his All-Star moment, to cap a game when Duncan Robinson and Rozier helped position the Heat for the win, Adebayo was particularly pleased to wind up with his moment, even if it was a moment fleeting in the NBA’s bigger picture.
“Yeah, man, like you enjoy somebody’s success, like Tyler being an All-Star, Duncan having his moments, Terry having his moments,” Adebayo said. “When you enjoy other people’s success, at some point it’s going to be your turn. The difficult part about it is when you sacrifice you don’t know how sacrifices look. For me, man, it’s just being as pure as you possibly can.”