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Bam Adebayo Had Blunt, NSFW Reaction to Facing Off Against Former Heat Teammate

Miami will take on Max Strus and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Michael Kadlick|
Adebayo isn't worried about Strus.
Adebayo isn't worried about Strus. | Screenshot via @WillManso on X.

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Miami HeatCleveland Cavaliers

The Miami Heat are headed back to the NBA playoffs following their 123-114 overtime win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, and are now primed for a first-round matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

As the first No. 10 seed ever to make the postseason after their play-in tournament run, the Heat are playing with house money, and despite being a heavy underdog, don’t seem too worried about at least one player on the Eastern Conference's one-seeded Cavs.

"I don't give a f— about Max Strus," Bam Adebayo told reporters when asked about the guard on Sunday.

For context, Strus played with Adebayo and the Heat for three seasons before signing a 4–year, $63 million contract with Cleveland in the summer of 2023.

Though the comment from Miami's center seemed a bit tongue-in-cheek, as he ultimately flashed a smile, it still adds a layer to what could shape up to be quite an interesting first-round matchup.

Tip-off for Game 1 is set for 7:00 p.m. from Cleveland's Rocket Arena.

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Mike Kadlick
MICHAEL KADLICK

Mike Kadlick is a senior NFL news writer for Sports Illustrated. He’s also a New England Patriots reporter for CLNS Media, where he hosts the Patriots Daily podcast and covers the beat from Gillette Stadium. Before joining SI, Kadlick worked at WEEI sports radio in Boston. He holds a master’s degree in public relations from Boston University. When Kadlick’s not covering football, he can be found running, spending time with his wife and dog, and enjoying all things pizza.

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