The Miami Heat probably isn't the first team many think of when boasting star talent.
But Bleacher Report believes Miami boasts players who can compete against the best. In their latest article, they featured Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, and Norman Powell among the best players in the league. All-Star guard Tyler Herro was excluded from the list due to his foot surgery, sidelining him for the first part of the season.
90. ANDREW WIGGINS
2024-25 STATS (MIAMI): 19.0 PTS, 4.2 REB, 3.3 AST, 1.2 STL, 1.0 BLK
The article wrote:
"He is a relentless defender and reliable outside shooter, and while there are swings in his nightly scoring output, his season-long average usually hovers in the high-teens. He isn't a building block by any means, but he is a strong supporting piece."
Wiggins had a strong start in Miami, creating optimism that he could be a weapon in the postseason. However, he was largely absent in the Heat's series against the Cavaliers. Still, Wiggins continues to be a strong defender in a frontcourt that will likely emphasize defensive pressure, complemented by efficient scoring.
75. NORMAN POWELL
2024-25 STATS: 21.8 PTS, 3.2 REB, 2.1 AST, 1.2 STL
The article wrote:
"There were a lot of incredible elements in Powell's ultra-rare age-31 breakout season, but maybe the most stunning was this: He really didn't change the way he played. He just did all of his typical stuff better than normal. His usage climbed, and his off-the-dribble task list lengthened. But this was basically just him at his shot-making, play-finishing best. Now, the hoops world wants to see if he can do it all again."
Powell had a career season last year, elevating his stock as a shooting guard for a championship team. The door opened for the veteran guard with Kawhi Leonard missing time, which raised questions about whether he stepped up in the midst of adversity or was just a primary scorer on a weakened team. Paired with Herro upon return, the Heat could boast its highest-scoring starting backcourt in years.
27. BAM ADEBAYO
2024-25 STATS: 18.1 PTS, 9.6 REB, 4.3 AST, 1.3 STL
The article wrote:
"Perhaps the NBA's premier all-purpose defender, Adebayo has raised the bar with his versatility. He finally added a fairly reliable three-ball to his arsenal last season while widening the gap between his averages in assists and turnovers. And yet, he heads into this campaign fighting a nagging narrative: that he has perhaps plateaued or even regressed a bit. His scoring output has been in decline over the past two years, and last season marked his first as a full-time starter, in which he was denied All-Defensive honors."
Adebayo took a step back offensively, which can be attributed to the departure of star Jimmy Butler. With Powell and Herro in the backcourt, Adebayo won't need to be as aggressive a scorer. However, as one of the two true Heat veterans, he will need to make a greater impact.
Perhaps watching his girlfriend A'ja Wilson win her third title will inspire him to get his first.