The Miami Heat were notably in pursuit of LeBron James this summer. Needless to say, when the team came up short in this venture, players like Bam Adebayo seemed particularly affected by this move.
While it was all in good humor, Bam Adebayo’s initial reaction to LeBron James signing with the Philadelphia 76ers was a text message challenging the superstar. However, in the following days, Adebayo also snubbed James from his all-time starting lineup, leading many to believe there is some bad blood between the two.
Former NBA player Josh Smith certainly felt this way when reacting to Bam Adebayo leaving LeBron James off his list. However, while discussing the matter with Joe Johnson on a recent episode of “Nightcap,” Smith revealed why Adebayo may have done that.
“He’s probably mad Bron didn’t come down there to South Beach and mess with him. He’s salty, man. Might be a little salty, man. Salt kills snails, not players. He ain’t worried about it,” Smith shared.
Although Adebayo has categorically mentioned that his relationship with LeBron James is positive, his behavior since James chose the 76ers over the Heat has suggested otherwise. On that note, it is easy to see why someone like Josh Smith might also feel that the Heat superstar seems scorned.
There is merit to this line of thinking, but it remains speculative. Hence, to address these matters, Adebayo himself spoke about his real feelings on James not choosing the Heat this offseason. He commented:
“Man, I’m cool with Bron. I consider Bron like a brother, honestly. We’ve been Olympic teammates, and even before that we’ve always had down-to-earth conversations. I’m happy for him. You want what’s best for somebody. That’s really how you go from there.”
It is abundantly clear that Adebayo isn’t as bothered by the noise surrounding his comments about James. Given that he has a solid line of communication with the 41-year-old, the Heat forward seems secure enough in maintaining his stance.
This is largely positive, as it suggests Adebayo remains motivated to compete without necessarily being driven by petty emotional conflict. Given how vital he will be to Miami’s success, the Heat will look forward to the three-time All-Star bringing the same energy to training camp.
The upcoming season will certainly be an interesting one for Bam Adebayo. Coming off a season averaging 20.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game, the Heat will look to Adebayo to take an even bigger step in his development as he fully embraces his role as a franchise player.
Having paired Bam Adebayo with Giannis Antetokounmpo to form one of the most formidable frontcourts in the NBA, Miami will certainly look like contenders in the East. Thus, even though the Heat missed out on LeBron James, all signs point to a promising future for the team.
