Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo Wants The 3-Pointer Only If It Comes Within Offense

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo has made one 3-pointer in each of the past two games

Author:
Shandel Richardson
Mar 16, 2024 12:30 PM EDT

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No, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo isn't trying to become Dirk Nowitzki or any other 3-point shooting big man in league history.

He just wants teams to respect his perimeter game. If not, he's going to take advantage when opponents give him space at the arc. Adebayo made one 3-pointer in each of the past two games.

Still, he will only take them at the right times.

. "Definitely in the flow [of the offense]," Adebayo said after Friday's victory against the Detroit Pistons. "At this point, it's about just shooting it, letting it ride."

Adebayo gets fans and media riled up every time he makes a couple from the arc. It's happened the past three seasons. This year, he's tied his career-high with three 3-pointers.

But it becomes a discussion any time he hits a couple in a short period.

It drew more attention recently because both of Adebayo's makes the last two games came at the top of the key.

"I had this discussion with him during the summer and he was working on his corner three," Spoelstra said. "I was with that that and I want him to work on the three but I told him the three that would be more available would be the one at the top. That's where he ends up being more often."

Still, Spoelstra is fine with Adebayo experimenting long as opponents keep giving him looks.

"The spacing typically doesn't make sense for our roster for him to be in the corner," Spoelstra said. "There's other guys that would be in the corner but he's up top all the time. I watched him now for several months, that's the one he's most proficient on. I'm good with him shooting that if they're playing way back."