Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo is already showing his full commitment to a successful season in 2019-20.
It’s been just over a month since the Miami Heat closed out their 2018-19 run, but guys are already on the grind to ensure next season is a success.
While the likes of president Pat Riley and owner Micky Arison are hard at work deciding what to do with the 13th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, and point guard Goran Dragic is mulling over whether or not to opt into the final year of his contract, center Bam Adebayo is spending time with a familiar face.
Last week, the Heat shared a video of Adebayo hitting the gym with former Heat star Chris Bosh.
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And the big man looked good.
After averaging 8.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 23.3 minutes per game last year, Adebayo certainly came into his own during his sophomore campaign.
Having had to start 28 games in place of Hassan Whiteside, the 21-year-old very much rose to the challenge of holding things down for Miami on both ends of the floor — so much so that some fans were left wondering if Whiteside even had much of a future in South Florida.
Take his April 1 performance against the Boston Celtics, for example. Adebayo finished with 19 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field (going 1-for-1 from downtown to boot), alongside 14 rebounds, two blocks and two assists.
Still, the former Kentucky stud has plenty left to improve on, which is where a heavyweight like Bosh comes in.
When it comes to offense, it should come as a shock to no one that dunks are Adebayo’s bread and butter. Between his seven-foot frame and his sheer strength, No. 13 rocks that rim like nobody’s business. However, the young fella is also supremely athletic, meaning there should be no shortage of ways he can score on opponents.
Although Bosh’s game plan with Adebayo hasn’t exactly been disclosed, the above video shows them working on just that, mixing up his offensive approach. Between practicing turnaround fades, inside jab steps and post face-ups, it seems the Heat are looking for more versatility from their center.
While Bosh’s role on the team may have differed slightly, he can certainly still help shape the New Jersey native’s game for the better, especially given how much head coach Erik Spoelstra has come to favor position-less basketball.
It doesn’t have to be solely offensively, either.
Sure, Adebayo has a bit more of a presence on the defensive end, standing large and in charge down the court. But over his years in the league, Bosh became known for his steadfast defense, always keeping firm and in position — something the backup big man has struggled with here and there. Perfectly in line with Bosh, Adebayo may not fear any competitor, but has yet to master the art of always efficient screen-setting.
Whether Adebayo remains coming off the bench or permanently replaces Whiteside in the starting lineup, one thing is for sure: He’ll be ready to contribute in a major way come fall.
There’s a reason the Miami Heat are known for their player development, after all.