MIAMI — Typically, the NBA is about uprooting, limiting the ability to plant roots.
That’s why Thanksgiving week particularly hit home with Heat center Bam Adebayo as he again hosted a food-distribution event ahead of the holiday.
“Being able to be a part of the community for nine years is not something that NBA players get to do often,” Adebayo said at the grocery pop-up he hosted Tuesday along with Heat teammate Tyler Herro at Miami’s Charles Hadley Park. “So being one of how many that get to be here for nine years and share that type of passion and love, like I said, I’m grateful for it every single day.”
“How many” as in one of only five players to have spent at least nine seasons with the Heat, along with Udonis Haslem (20), Dwyane Wade (15), Alonzo Mourning (11) and Keith Askins (9).
“It just makes me more and more grateful to be in this position, be who I am, be able to impact this community for as long as I’ve gotten to,” he said, ahead of Wednesday night’s NBA Cup game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Kaseya Center.
Typically a solo act, this year’s Thanksgiving event was a joint venture between The Bam, Books & Brotherhood Foundation with the T. Herro Foundation, with Herro in his seventh season in Miami.
“Ever since I came to Miami,” Herro said, “that’s been something that I’ve always wanted to do, is be in the community as much as possible, give back, and then obviously for holidays and events like this, it’s super important to me.
“And then being able to partner with Bam’s foundation is super important, as well.”
Raised by his mother in a no-frills trailer home in North Carolina, Adebayo said he never has lost touch of where he came from and what he needs to do.
“Being where I’m from and not having an opportunity of being in a situation where this would happen to me when I was younger, on the other side of that, being able to light these people’s faces just brings joy to me, it’s a blessing,” the Heat’s captain said. ” You don’t ask anything in return for that. It’s all out of love.
“I was one of those kids where nobody really cared about us or my mom. So being able to grow up and impact somebody else’s life in the smallest way possible.”
Amid divisive times, Adebayo said such events can coalesce.
“All people struggle. It doesn’t matter what gender, race, color,” he said. “We have people in this country that struggle. So being able to give back to those who needed it, that’s how you somewhat bridge the gap a little bit.”
There also was appreciation by Adebayo for the volunteers at the event.
“They want to be part of it, and that’s what I’m thankful for, people want to be a part of giving back to the community, because this is what fills up our arena,” he said, comparing it to the limited access at games. “People in the upper bowl, a lot of those people come to our games and they don’t get a chance to really see us. So being able to do something like where we are on the ground and being able to impact the community head on, I feel like it just changes somebody’s life.”
So giving back, then giving effort on the court against the Bucks, and then Thanksgiving of their own, with the Heat with two days off before Saturday night’s home game against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons.
“I’m not turkey, but I’m more of a ham guy, for sure,” said Herro, who leaves the cooking to others. “Definitely not doing the cooking. My chef or my girl will definitely do that.”
But now with the Heat duo knowing that others can have their tables set, as well.
“Being able to impact the community always brings me back to this is my calling,” Adebayo said. “This is what I’m here for, just to share joy and go out here and give people something to be glad about.”