Mar 10, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) walks back to the bench during a time out against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images | Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
Bam Adebayo made history on Tuesday night, after passing his basketball idol, Kobe Bryant, for the second-highest scoring game ever in NBA history with an 83 scoring point in a single match against the Wizards.
Bam’s 83 points come second to Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 100 points. He was in tears and hugged his mother, Marilyn Blount, before leaving the floor after the game. Emotions were kept in check, until then. Adebayo’s career high, before Monday, was 41, which he passed by half time.
“For me, it was just remaining calm, remaining locked in and understanding that I can go for something special,” Adebayo said. “I didn’t think it was going to be 83. But to have this moment is surreal, because like I said, man, to be able to do it at home, in front of my mom, in front of my people, in front of the home fans, this is a mark in history that will forever be remembered,” he added.
Houston star and Adebayo’s USA Basketball teammate Kevin Durant said. “It takes a lot of energy to go out there and put those shots up and also make them, set a record, surpass Kobe as the second highest-scoring player in the history of the game. I mean, damn. Congrats to him. Huge, huge accomplishment, something we’re going to be talking about forever.”
“BAM BAM BAM,” former Heat forward LeBron James posted on social media. James had the Heat single-game record of 61 points, set on March 3, 2014. He’s now No. 2 on the team list — by a wide margin.
According to Adebayo’s longtime girlfriend and the four-time WNBA MVP, A’ja Wilson, “I know he says that I’m his inspiration. “But I don’t think he has a clue how much he inspires me to continue to be the person that I am.”
When Miami heats head coach, Spoelstra, finally declared Adebayo’s night over, he was waiting to greet the center with a big hug. Teammates did the same, as did some of the Wizards after the final buzzer. Adebayo made his way over to Heat managing general partner Micky Arison for congratulations, before eventually getting to the locker room.
Finally, Adebayo made his way to the parking garage, exhausted. He never had an opportunity to meet Bryant, who died in 2020, and often wonders what it would be like to have him as a confidant. He had those same thoughts Tuesday, after topping Bryant’s 81.
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah