Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo is excelling at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but not everyone is willing to fully acknowledge his standout performances for Team USA.
During a recent episode of CBS Sports HQ, analysts Chris Hassel and Ashley Nicole Moss offered contrasting views on Adebayo’s impact.
“He looked like prime Dwight Howard out there on the court at times,” Hassel remarked. “Why has he been so successful on this team, which is packed with players you would think of before him?”
Although the comparison to Howard might be exaggerated, Adebayo’s two-way impact is reminiscent of the three-time Defensive Player of the Year. His performance in Wednesday’s victory against South Sudan was particularly notable, as he recorded a team-high 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting.
However, Moss attributed Adebayo’s success more to the differences between NBA and international play than to his own abilities.
“I just think the FIBA rules kind of work to the kind of player he is,” Moss stated. “He is very streaky, though, when it comes to his shooting. I will say that if you got this version of him in Miami, you wouldn’t have to rely on Jimmy Butler so much.”
Moss makes a valid point about Adebayo’s need for an increased offensive role, given that the three-time All-Star is already the anchor of the Heat’s defense.
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