Bam Adebayo details the pivotal injury that ended the Miami Heat's season, questioning the league's review process and future conversations with LaMelo Ball.
The Miami Heat’s season ends after a 127-126 loss in the first round of the Play-In Tournament against the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night. They will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2019, which was Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade’s final year in the league. Shortly after, in the offseason, the organization completed a sign-and-trade for Jimmy Butler. However, the Heat could still be playing for a potential playoff berth if Bam Adebayo hadn’t been taken out against the Hornets.
The three-time All-Star center only played 11 first-half minutes, then suffered a lower back injury after LaMelo Ball swept him off balance from underneath. Adebayo never returned and finished with just six points, three rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
In Thursday’s end-of-season interviews, the 28-year-old was visibly hobbling and shared his thoughts on the entire situation and how it was handled.
“Obviously, I’m still walking, so I’m okay,” Adebayo said. “I think the officials handled it, I guess, by the book. I feel like it’ll be a change at some point, because it doesn’t make sense that three or four plays can go by and you can review a three-point shot, but you can’t review a hostile act. I think LaMelo is just going to see it as another game. He makes $30 [million] a year, the [$60,000 fine], he’s not even going to see. It’s one of those things, everybody’s going to have their opinion on it. Nobody is really going to know the truth, but LaMelo, if it was dirty or not. Obviously, everybody is going to try to defend him or defend me. It’s really him. We move on at this point.”
Adebayo was referring to former Heat guard Max Strus’ three-pointer in game seven of the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics. He made a long shot from the left corner. However, the officials took it away after further reviewing Strus' foot, which was ruled out of bounds.
The nine-year veteran revealed that Ball didn’t meet with him after the game for any apologies, mainly due to being in the shower.
“At some point, I’ll see him again,” Adebayo added. “We’ll have that conversation and we move on.”
The Heat and Hornets are both in the Southeast Division, resulting in four matchups throughout the regular season. Whether or not there’s still hostility, a conversation between them is bound to happen.
Along with the fine, the league upgraded Ball’s action to a flagrant foul penalty one. He will not be suspended for the Hornets’ upcoming matchup against the Orlando Magic on Friday night, with the final spot of the playoffs at stake.
Adebayo will begin his rehabilitation, but it’s not expected to last long throughout the offseason.
After missing the playoffs, the organization could look to make drastic changes to the roster, but more will be revealed in the upcoming months.
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