Bam's got next
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This week proves Miami has some of the best athletes in the world, even if they aren't included in our bracket crowning our all-time greatest sports stars.
- Heat center Bam Adebayo scored 83 points on Tuesday night, the second-highest scoring game in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain's mythical 100-point game in 1962.
Why it matters: Adebayo's historic night — far surpassing LeBron James (61) for most scored by a Heat player in a game — is in many ways a statement from Miami's younger generation of athletes that their time is now.
- In our bracket highlighting some of the 16 best athletes to ever represent the Magic City, we left out every active player on the Heat, the Marlins and the Dolphins — an omission reflecting South Florida's decades of rich sports history but also those teams' lack of success in recent years.
🌶️ Case in point: Heat Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade was mentioned after the game by Adebayo and coach Erik Spoelstra for his comments about the lack of "buzz" in Miami around the current team. (Wade has also challenged Adebayo to help the Heat make a playoff run.)
- "We feel a certain way about that," Spoelstra said. He says the buzz comment motivated the team's young stars Adebayo and Tyler Herro.
- "All of a sudden, that competitive will, it can manifest itself in a bunch of different ways and in this way it just became a moment in history in this league.
🐝 "There will be a buzz about the Miami Heat now."
- Asked about the comments, Adebayo joked about Wade's age. "First of all, this man talking about 'ain't no buzz and he wants to be out.' He's 45. Take your a** in the house," he said, laughing.
- "I don't know what he's trying to do actually. Like I don't know if he's trying to like rile us up. He's got to understand we went through COVID, it's a different time. But all that said, I feel like it's a lot of buzz tonight, not only here but in the association."
- Wade, now an NBA analyst, congratulated his "lil bro" after the game, writing on Instagram, "This is the kinda buzz and ⭐️ the city needs!"
🏆 Back to the bracket: Wade advanced to the finals of our bracket against Dolphins legend Dan Marino. (Wade beat fellow Heat legend Udonis Haslem, while Marino eliminated soccer GOAT Lionel Messi)
- We will announce the winner tomorrow.
- Click here to vote!