A former NBA All-Star said Bam Adebayo can play like a two-time NBA MVP.
Bam Adebayo’s Miami Heat are off the back of a turbulent year. Jimmy Butler forced a trade to the Golden State Warriors in a saga that lasted nearly the entire season. Led by Adebayo, they still made the playoffs, losing in four games to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Adebayo finished 10th in defensive player of the year voting last season. He’s a three-time NBA All-Star, was named to the All-Defensive First Team in 2024, and won Olympic Gold last summer with Team USA. But he’s a level beneath the very, very best in the NBA.
However, a former All-Star said if he makes the next steps, he can play like a two-time MVP.
Photo by SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty ImagesJeff Teague says Bam Adebayo can be like Giannis Antetokounmpo
Former NBA All-Star Jeff Teague said Bam Adebayo can be like two-time MVP and NBA champion Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo is in the argument for the best player in the NBA. He automatically makes his team a threat in the East, even though the Milwaukee Bucks struggle to build a contender around him.
Teague said he sees the same skillset in Adebayo. He said on the Club 520 Podcast, “Bam could be Giannis. The way Bam moves, he can dribble and s–t. He’s got all of that. I like Miami.”
Congrats to the new double-double leader in Heat franchise history, Bam Adebayo!
He passes Rony Seikaly to set the new franchise record of 222 💥 pic.twitter.com/UBdO6DaVaN
— NBA (@NBA) March 4, 2025
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It’s a wild take. Antetokounmpo was drafted four years before Adebayo, but the Miami Heat star is entering his ninth season in the NBA. If he was going to turn into Antetokounmpo, that would have happened by now. He’s now 28 years old.
In NBA terms, Antetokounmpo was a late bloomer. He only looked like an MVP candidate in his fourth NBA season when he won Most Improved Player.
If Adebayo can replicate even 90% of what Antetokounmpo is able to do on the court, the Heat would be contenders to win their conference.
Miami Heat can make a run at the Eastern Conference
Adebayo isn’t Antetokounmpo, but he still could lead his Heat to the Finals this season. The Indiana Pacers were surprise finalists last season, and the conference is wide open this year.
The Pacers are out of contention due to Tyrese Haliburton’s injury for the season, and so are the Boston Celtics with Jayson Tatum’s injury. The Philadelphia 76ers are also in an injury crisis.
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Teams such as the Atlanta Hawks are looking to make a run this year, despite being in a tricky contract negotiation with Trae Young. There is no juggernaut in the East, so it could be the year of the underdog.
Tyler Herro will be a key piece for them, as well as Adebayo. Herro is seeking a contract from the Heat, and will look to prove his worth all season.
If he can replicate his All-Star form from last season, then legendary Head Coach Erik Spoelstra could lead his team to yet another against-the-odds Finals appearance.