An extraordinary evening unfolded for Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat as he faced the Washington Wizards. Related: No Big Dance, No Job: Aut…
Bam Adebayo characterized his 83-point performance versus the Washington Wizards as “unreal.” Related: OpenAI’s Algorithmi…
Adebayo’s stellar achievement for the Miami Heat positioned him second on the historical record of points amassed in an NBA match, trailing solely Wilt Chamberlain, who tallied 100 in 1962. Kobe Bryant, a persistent source of motivation for Adebayo, now holds the third spot with 81 points.
The 28-year-old concluded the game having made 20 of 43 attempts from the field, 36 of 43 from the free-throw stripe, and 7 of 22 from beyond the arc, as the Wizards were decisively defeated 150-129.
As victory was secured well in advance of the final buzzer, the entire evening increasingly revolved around Adebayo’s performance.
Adebayo stated, “For me, it was simply about staying composed, maintaining focus, and realizing I could achieve something extraordinary. I never imagined it would reach 83 points. However, experiencing this particular instant is truly surreal, because, as I mentioned, being able to accomplish it at home, with my mother present, surrounded by my loved ones, and before the local supporters, establishes a historical milestone that will endure eternally.”
He added, “Wilt, myself, then Kobe. It seems unbelievable.”
“We are privileged to have seen that” – Heat coach Spoelstra
Adebayo accumulated 31 points during a scorching first quarter, reaching 43 by the half-time break.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra commented, “An utterly unreal evening. Clearly, we have been fortunate to partake in numerous significant occasions within this venue. This particular event simply transpired. Such instances occur, and I am thankful that we all had the opportunity to be involved and observe it.”
For the Wizards, it proved to be a humbling night, as their 29th-ranked defense was utterly overwhelmed.
Wizards coach Brian Keefe remarked, “One must commend him. During the initial half, he shot the ball superbly, achieving a high score. Evidently, he emerged with some momentum in the third quarter as well. They certainly kept him on the court, and numerous fouls were whistled – resulting in 16 free throws in the final quarter. My aim was to prevent him from possessing the ball. Yet, he still earned free throws from 40 feet away from the basket. I am unable to account for certain of those decisions. That concludes my statement on the matter.”
James commends stellar Adebayo
Adebayo now possesses the Heat’s single-game scoring record, a distinction previously held by LeBron James, who achieved 61 points in 2014.
James posted on X: “BAM, BAM, BAM.”
Kevin Durant of Houston, another enduring luminary in the NBA and Adebayo’s USA national team colleague, also offered his commendation, stating: “I examined the statistics. It was quite astonishing: 40 field goal attempts, 40 free throws, 20 three-pointers – that demands immense endurance, truly. It requires substantial vigor to step onto the court, attempt those shots, and convert them, establishing a new record, eclipsing Kobe as the second-highest scorer in the sport’s history. Honestly, wow. Congratulations to him. A colossal, colossal achievement, something we will discuss endlessly.”
Highest 10 individual game scores in NBA history
| Player | Points | Game | Date |
| 1. Wilt Chamberlain | 100 | PHILADELPHIA v New York | March 2, 1962 |
| 2. Bam Adebayo | 83 | MIAMI v Washington | March 10, 2026 |
| 3. Kobe Bryant | 81 | LOS ANGELES LAKERS v Toronto | Jan 22, 2006 |
| 4. Wilt Chamberlain | 78 | PHILADELPHIA v Los Angeles Lakers | Dec 8, 1961 |
| 5. Luka Doncic | 73 | DALLAS v Atlanta | Jan 26, 2024 |
| 6. Wilt Chamberlain | 73 | PHILADELPHIA v Chicago | Jan 13, 1962 |
| 7. Wilt Chamberlain | 73 | SAN FRANCISCO v New York | Nov 16, 1962 |
| 8. David Thompson | 73 | DENVER v Detroit | April 9, 1978 |
| 9. Wilt Chamberlain | 72 | SAN FRANCISCO v Los Angeles Lakers | Nov 3, 1962 |
| 10. Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, David Robinson, Elgin Baylor | All 71 |

