Bam Adebayo admitted Kobe Bryant was the first player who came to mind after he produced one of the most historic scoring nights the NBA has ever seen.
The Miami Heat star stunned the basketball world with an incredible performance that pushed him past Bryant in the league’s all-time single-game scoring list.
Even after the final buzzer, Adebayo was still thinking about the late Lakers legend.
Bam Adebayo wonders what Kobe Bryant would say after a record night
Naveen Ganglani shared Adebayo’s emotional reaction after his record-breaking game.
“To me it’s wondering what he’d say… to be at 83 and you pass him, my mind is like, ‘What would he say to me?’ Because I always wanted to have a conversation with him,” Adebayo said.
The Heat star added: “He’ll probably say, ‘Do it again.’ Just a surreal moment being in the company with somebody you idolized growing up.”
Adebayo has often spoken about Bryant’s influence on his mentality and work ethic.
Breaking a scoring record held by someone he admired growing up clearly made the moment even more meaningful.
How Bam Adebayo’s 83 points compare to Kobe Bryant’s 81
Adebayo delivered his historic night in a 150–129 victory over the Washington Wizards, finishing with 83 points to produce the second-highest scoring game in NBA history.
The Heat center shot 20-of-43 from the field, knocked down seven three-pointers and went 36-of-43 from the free-throw line, setting NBA records for both free throws made and attempted in a single game.
Bryant’s iconic 81-point performance came for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006 and had stood for nearly two decades as the second-highest total in league history.
Only Wilt Chamberlain’s legendary 100-point game in 1962 now sits above Adebayo’s extraordinary performance.
The historic night instantly placed Adebayo alongside some of the most unforgettable scoring displays the NBA has ever witnessed.
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