Bam Adebayo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bam Adebayo

Adebayo with the Miami Heat in 2020
No. 13 – Miami Heat
Center / power forward
Personal information
Born	(1997-07-18) July 18, 1997 (age 28) Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
High school	Northside (Pinetown, North Carolina) High Point Christian Academy (High Point, North Carolina)
Listed height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight	255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
College	Kentucky (2016–2017)
NBA Draft	2017 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14th overall
Selected by the Miami Heat
Pro career	2017–present
League	NBA
Career history
2017–present	Miami Heat
Career highlights and awards
3× NBA All-Star (2020, 2023, 2024) NBA All-Defensive First Team (2024) 4× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2020–2023) Second-team All-SEC (2017) SEC All-Freshman team (2017) McDonald's All-American (2016) North Carolina Mr. Basketball (2016)
Medals Men's basketball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2020 Tokyo Team Gold 2024 Paris Team

Edrice Femi "Bam" Adebayo is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was picked by the Heat in the 2017 NBA draft after playing college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. Bam Adebayo has been chosen as an NBA All-Star three times. He has also been recognized five times for his great defense on the NBA All-Defensive Team. He helped the Heat reach the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023. He also won gold medals with the U.S. Olympic team in 2020 and 2024.

Early Life and Nickname

Bam Adebayo was born on July 18, 1997, in Newark, New Jersey. His father was Nigerian, and his mother was African-American. When he was just one year old, his mother gave him the nickname "Bam Bam." This happened because he flipped over a coffee table while watching The Flintstones, just like the character Bamm-Bamm Rubble.

When Bam was seven, he and his mother moved to North Carolina. He didn't see his father much after that. His father passed away in 2020 in Nigeria. For a while, Bam didn't like his last name or his Nigerian background because of the distance from his father. But when he was 16, he started learning more about his Nigerian heritage and has since embraced it.

High School Basketball Journey

Bam Adebayo went to Northside High School in Pinetown, North Carolina. In his junior year, he was amazing, averaging 32.2 points and 21 rebounds per game. During the summer, he played for his Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team, Team Loaded North Carolina. He was named MVP at the 2015 Under Armour Elite 24 game.

After his junior year, he moved to High Point Christian Academy in High Point, North Carolina. In his first game there, he scored 22 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. As a senior, he averaged 18.9 points and 13.0 rebounds per game. He led his team to the state championship game. In 2016, Bam Adebayo was named North Carolina Mr. Basketball. He also played in the 2016 McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic.

Bam was considered one of the top high school basketball players in the 2016 class. Many experts rated him as a five-star recruit. On November 17, 2015, he decided to play college basketball for the University of Kentucky.

College Career at Kentucky

Adebayo playing for Kentucky in 2016

Bam Adebayo played for the Kentucky Wildcats during the 2016–2017 season. On December 7, 2016, he scored 16 points and had 7 rebounds in a win against Valparaiso. Later, on February 21, 2017, he had a great game with 22 points and 15 rebounds against Missouri.

Kentucky was the top team going into the SEC tournament. They won the SEC Championship by defeating Arkansas 82–65. In the NCAA tournament, Bam continued to play well. He had 18 rebounds in a win against Northern Kentucky and 12 rebounds against UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen. Kentucky's journey ended in the Elite Eight, where they lost a close game to North Carolina.

After his freshman season, Bam Adebayo decided to enter the 2017 NBA draft. In his 38 games for Kentucky, he averaged 13.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. He was also named to the Second-team All-SEC and the SEC All-Freshman team.

Professional Career with the Miami Heat

Starting in the NBA (2017–2019)

On June 22, 2017, the Miami Heat picked Bam Adebayo as the 14th overall player in the 2017 NBA draft. He signed his first contract with the Heat on July 1. In his first season, he played in 69 games, averaging 6.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

In his second season (2018–2019), Bam started to show more of his skills. On November 25, 2018, he had a career-high 21 rebounds and scored 16 points against the Toronto Raptors. He also scored 22 points and 10 rebounds in a win over the Phoenix Suns on December 7. Bam played in all 82 games that season, averaging 8.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

Becoming an All-Star and Reaching the Finals (2019–2020)

The 2019–2020 season was a big one for Bam Adebayo. He became a full-time starter for the Heat. On December 10, 2019, he achieved his first career triple-double (scoring double digits in points, rebounds, and assists) with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists against the Atlanta Hawks. Just a few days later, he had his second triple-double.

His excellent play earned him his first selection to the 2020 NBA All-Star Game. He also won the NBA All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge competition. Bam finished the season averaging 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 5.1 assists.

In the NBA Playoffs, Bam was key in helping the Heat reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014. He scored a playoff career-high 32 points in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics. The Heat made it to the 2020 NBA Finals, but they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. At the end of the season, Bam was recognized for his defense, being named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.

Continued Success and Defensive Recognition (2020–2022)

On November 28, 2020, Bam Adebayo signed a big contract extension with the Heat. On January 23, 2021, he scored a career-high 41 points against the Brooklyn Nets. He also recorded another triple-double that season. He and teammate Jimmy Butler made history by both getting triple-doubles in the same game more than once. Bam continued to be a strong defender, earning his second consecutive All-Defensive Second Team selection.

In December 2021, Bam had thumb surgery, which kept him out for several weeks. Despite this, he helped the Heat finish as the top team in the Eastern Conference. They reached the Eastern Conference Finals again in 2022, facing the Boston Celtics. Bam had a great game in Game 3, scoring 31 points. However, the Heat were eliminated in Game 7. He was named to the All-Defensive Second Team for the third year in a row.

Career Highs and Another Finals Trip (2022–2023)

Bam Adebayo at Miami Heat Family Festival in March 2023

The 2022–2023 season saw Bam Adebayo reach new career highs in scoring. On November 25, 2022, he scored a season-high 38 points against the Washington Wizards. He was also named to his second 2023 NBA All-Star Game.

In the playoffs, Bam recorded his first career playoff triple-double in the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks. He helped the Heat advance to the second round. He continued to perform well, joining Heat legends LeBron James and Dwyane Wade with many playoff double-doubles. The Heat made it all the way to the 2023 NBA Finals, where they played against the Denver Nuggets. Bam led the Heat in scoring and rebounding during the Finals, but they lost the series in five games.

First All-Defensive First Team and Recent Seasons (2023–2025)

On November 6, 2023, Bam Adebayo achieved another triple-double with 22 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Los Angeles Lakers. He was named the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week in January 2024. In February 2024, he was selected for his third 2024 NBA All-Star Game. On March 17, he hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer against the Detroit Pistons. At the end of the season, Bam was named to his first All-Defensive First Team, showing he was one of the best defenders in the league.

In the 2024 playoffs, the Heat faced the Boston Celtics again. Bam had 21 points and 10 rebounds in a Game 2 win. He also tied LeBron James for the most playoff double-doubles in Heat history. The Heat lost the series in five games, but Bam had a playoff career-high average of 22.6 points per game.

On July 6, 2024, Bam Adebayo signed a new contract extension with the Heat. In the 2024–2025 season, he continued to make history. On February 1, 2025, he scored 30 points, had 12 rebounds, and hit a game-winning shot against the San Antonio Spurs. On March 3, he recorded his 222nd career double-double, setting a new record for the most double-doubles in Heat franchise history. On April 18, he helped the Heat become the first tenth seed team to make the playoffs by winning a play-in game against the Atlanta Hawks.

Playing for Team USA

Bam Adebayo was chosen to play for the U.S. National team at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, where he won a gold medal. He was also selected for the U.S. National team for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where Team USA won another gold medal.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

College

See also

In Spanish: Bam Adebayo para niños