Bam Adebayo continues his fine form after the Miami Heat big man put on a near double-double performance in Team USA’s 105-79 win over Serbia in an exhibition game in Abu Dhabi.
Adebayo racked up 17 points (6-for-9 FG shooting) and 8 rebounds in 19 minutes of play for Team USA, who are now 3-0 in the exhibition games leading up to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Despite playing behind Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid at the center position, the Heat star is set to play a crucial role for Team USA in this upcoming men’s basketball tournament in Paris.
Here are a few reasons why Adebayo could turn the tide of the tournament in favor of the Americans in these Olympic Games.
Scoring Punch off the Bench
Team USA has selected Adebayo to be on this latest reincarnation of the Dream team primarily because of his interior defense. However, Adebayo has proven in these warmup games that he can get buckets too. Adebayo averages 11.0 points on over 50 percent FG shooting in this stacked Team USA roster. Against potential gold-medal rivals Serbia, the Heat big delivered his best game offensively, tallying 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting in 19 minutes of action.
Stretching the Floor
Adebayo has been an effective floor stretcher so far for Team USA, knocking down a handful of 20-foot jumpers and even extending his range to FIBA three-point territory which is a foot shorter than the NBA 3-Point Line. Team USA coaching staff encourages their big men to shoot threes because it opens the floor for athletic slashers like Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, and even the 39-year-old LeBron James to take the ball to the basket. Adebayo hasn’t disappointed so far in that department. He drained 3 of Team USA’s 16 three-pointers, which powered them to a statement win over the strong Serbian side led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
Physicality and Defense
This is the primary reason Adebayo joined Team USA. The recently named All-Defensive first-team member is a physical specimen who possesses the muscles to bang up with the big guys and the agility to cover shiftier guards out on the perimeter.
The physicality in international basketball, especially in the interior, is on another level compared to the action in the NBA. Adebayo learned and adapted to it well when he played for Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics, helping the team reclaim the gold three years ago.
At the Olympic Games, his main task is to back up Embiid in the center position. But when opponents decide using a small ball tactic to outrun Team USA, Adebayo will play a much larger role in countering this strategy. The Miami star is big, agile, and versatile, able to play in any situation and against any scheme, making him the perfect fit for head coach Steve Kerr.
