LOS ANGELES
The Miami Heat’s new-look uptempo offense is requiring something new from three-time All-Star center Bam Adebayo.
Fewer pick-and-rolls and dribble handoffs means that Adebayo is getting his shots a little differently this season. It also means that Adebayo is getting his shots from different areas of the court this season.
That has led to Adebayo beginning this season with fewer shots coming from around the rim and significantly more shots coming from three-point range.
This shift was highlighted in the Heat’s 107-101 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night at Frost Bank Center to kick off a four-game trip, as Adebayo took five shots from within the restricted area and put up a career-high 13 three-point attempts.
“Bam is growing his game every single year, and that’s another aspect that’s been happening now for a year and a half,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, as the trip continues with two games in Los Angeles against the Lakers on Sunday (9:30 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Sun) and Clippers on Monday (10:30 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Sun). “And that will help us. It’s helping our attacks and ability to get into the paint for other guys. When you can kick out to him, it also gives him an opportunity to put the ball on the floor versus close-outs.”
The question is whether Adebayo is taking too many threes and not enough shots from around the basket?
According to Cleaning the Glass, just 26% of Adebayo’s shot attempts this season have come at the rim (26th percentile among NBA bigs) while 36% of his shots this season have come from three-point range (78th percentile among NBA bigs).
“That’s the goal to be a three-level scorer in this league,” said Adebayo, who finished Thursday’s defeat that snapped Miami’s three-game winning streak with a season-high 31 points on 12-of-27 shooting from the field and 4-of-13 shooting from three-point range to go with 10 rebounds. “That’s hard to guard when you can shoot threes, get in the paint. But also if they dare you to make a middy, you can make one.”
Through the first five games of this season, Adebayo is shooting 13 of 36 (36.1%) from behind the arc.
At this pace, Adebayo would shatter his current career-high marks for three-point makes and attempts in a season that he set last season of 79 three-point makes and 221 three-point attempts.
Adebayo is currently operating at a pace that would have him finish this regular season with a career-high 213 three-point makes and a career-high 590 three-point attempts. For perspective, only 13 NBA players put up more than 590 threes last regular season.
“People used to get mad that I didn’t shoot the ball,” Adebayo, 28, said of his recent uptick in three-point volume. “So, working on my game, trusting my shot. All my teammates believe. They’ve been working out with me, they see that I can get hot. Just keep moving from there.”
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) looks to shoot the ball as Memphis Grizzlies forwardJaren Jackson Jr. (8) defends in the first half of their NBA preseason game at Kaseya Center on Oct. 17, 2025, in Miami. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
While Adebayo’s shot chart looks a little different this season, he welcomed the changes to the Heat’s offense that Spoelstra and the coaching staff implemented.
After finishing with one of the NBA’s 10 worst offensive ratings in each of the past three regular seasons and as one of the five slowest-paced teams in the NBA in each of the past six regular seasons, Adebayo knew changes needed to be made. Even if it meant fewer actions — like less pick-and-rolls and dribble handoffs — that he’s used to generate shots from inside the paint in past years.
“The last two years have been a struggle for us trying to figure out how we can get this offense going,” said Adebayo, who is in his ninth NBA season. “So I was open to a new offense at that point. But that’s the great part of being versatile. Being able to fit any offensive scheme and being able to impact it and being able to be effective.”
Adebayo’s numbers so far this season reflect the change in his shot diet, as more shots from deep and fewer shots from around the basket have led to a dip in field-goal percentage. He’s averaging 23 points per game while shooting 43.3% from the field through the first five games this season for a field-goal percentage that would go down as a career-low mark after he shot better than 50 percent in each of his first seven NBA seasons.
As Heat captain, though, Adebayo is accepting of the changes if it means better results for the team. So far, so good, as the Heat has started the season 3-2 and entered Friday with the league’s ninth-best offensive rating.
“Forget about the offense. It’s just his overall leadership,” Spoelstra said of Adebayo. “You can look at every time there’s a break in the action, he’s bringing everybody together. You know, that’s leadership. That’s connection. That’s somebody who really wants to help this group get better and ultimately win.
“He understands the responsibility. He’s really growing into it organically. It’s really a beauty to watch. Guys turn to him now. It’s his ninth year. It goes by fast, but they see him as a seasoned veteran. I’ve said it before, but a lot of the young guys have seen him make an impact in all these games in June. So he has deep respect in the locker room. And he’s doing it in a way where he’s not up above them telling them what to do. He’s right there with them in the trenches.”
POWELL MAKES DONATION
Heat guard Norman Powell donated $100,000 through his Understand the Grind Foundation to Direct Relief in support of Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts.
Powell played for Jamaica’s men’s basketball team in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Americas pre-qualifiers in August. Powell was born and raised in San Diego, but his father was born in Kingston.
“Prayers out to everybody affected in Jamaica,” Powell said Thursday. “Crazy. Heartbreaking. Obviously, going to support and provide help with the relief efforts in Jamaica through my foundation, Understand The Grind Foundation. Hearts and prayers out to them. I’ve been checking on the guys on the national team and family that I do have there. Thankfully, everybody’s safe for the most part. Still waiting to hear back on damages and the situation for them. A lot of flooding and stuff so they can’t access those areas. Still talking to them, being very active and making sure they’re good and helping them in any way I can.”
Donations to Direct Relief can be made at DirectRelief.com/SupportJamaica.
This story was originally published October 31, 2025 at 11:35 AM.
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Anthony Chiang
Miami Herald
Anthony Chiang covers the Miami Heat for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and was born and raised in Miami.
