Part 1 of a two-part series
Has the player famously nicknamed “No Ceiling” suddenly reached his ceiling at 28?
An even more worrisome question: Has Bam Adebayo begun an irreversible offensive decline?
Those concerns echo as Adebayo suffers through a jarring offensive slump that has left him, statistically, among the league’s worst high-volume shooting centers on two-point and three-point attempts.
Adebayo’s six-point effort in Sunday’s 124-112 loss at Oklahoma City (on 3-for-10 shooting) marked the 11th game in a row that he failed to reach 20 points, matching an 11-game drought last season.
He has averaged just 11.4 points and shot 37.1% during those 11 games, a stretch when the Heat is 4-7.
Of course, Adebayo’s value to the Heat has never been primarily about scoring. For years, Erik Spoelstra has dismissed questions when he’s mired in an offensive slump, saying that’s not how the torchbearer of Heat Culture should be judged.
But his offensive evolution — which complemented his exemplary defense and reliable rebounding — helped him earn a three-year, $166 million extension 18 months ago.
Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat goes up for a shot against Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter at Kaseya Center on December 29, 2025 in Miami. Rich Storry Getty Images
And now that element of his game is ailing like no other time this decade.
His 16.4 scoring average is his worst since 2019-20 (his third season) and marks a third consecutive season with a decline, from 20.4 to 19.3 to 18.1 last season.
His 44.6 shooting percentage would be a career low and well below his 53.1 career average.
The Heat’s new offensive system — which has emphasized free-flowing, motion-based basketball and dramatically reduced pick-and-rolls and screens — has at least somewhat contributed to the decline.
In past seasons, Adebayo generated a large chunk of his points off rolls to the basket after setting a screen or delivering a handoff. But this new offense has left him without one of his go-to actions to generate quality shots for himself. He must create his own shot, sometimes in isolations, more than before.
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) drives the ball passed Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles (12) during the second half of a game on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, at the Kaseys Center in downtown Miami, Fla. The Heat lost to the Raptors. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
“Just trying to figure out where I can get my open shots and shoot them with confidence,” Adebayo said two weeks ago. “We’re playing at a faster pace.”
The new offensive approach worked when the Heat began the season 14-7. Miami is 6-12 since and stands 20-19, entering Tuesday night’s home game against Phoenix.
But this offensive regression goes well beyond a change to the Heat’s system.
Consider:
▪ Though Adebayo’s increased volume of three-point shooting has contributed to the lower overall shooting percentage, there’s far more at play.
His percentage on two pointers has dipped to 49.8, 50th among centers. Only one NBA starting center — Milwaukee’s Myles Turner — has made two-point shots at a lower rate of accuracy (47.6). It’s a big dropoff from Adebayo’s 57.3 percentage on twos in 2020-21.
▪ Adebayo’s three-point shooting, which improved significantly late last season, also has regressed. He’s at 31.7% (38 for 120).
Entering Monday night’s games, 182 NBA players had launched at least 100 three-point shots.
Adebayo’s 31.7 is 17th worst among those 182 and worst among all NBA centers with 100 attempts. He shot 35.7 on threes last season (79 for 221), fueling hope that he might become a consistent threat from that range.
▪ Adebayo has struggled to finish around the basket more than past seasons.
On shots between one and four feet, his 64.7% accuracy (66 for 102) ranks 43rd among 51 centers with at least 100 attempts.
Adebayo’s size (at 6-9) has contributed to that, because he’s often being defended by taller players around the basket.
As perspective, the Lakers’ DeAndre Ayton is shooting 79.6% in that range, OKC’s Chet Holmgren 75.4 and Memphis’ Zach Edey 74.1.
Another comparison is Magic backup center Goga Bitadze, because he and Adebayo have taken a similar number of shots in that range.
Bitadze, who is two inches taller than Adebayo, has made 84 of 109 shots within five feet of the basket (77.1). Adebayo has made 66 of 102 (64.7).
▪ Adebayo’s shooting from five to nine feet also has plunged and now ranks among the worst in the league among centers.
He’s at 40% on those shots (34 for 85).
Among centers who have taken at least that many attempts in that range, Adebayo is third worst in shooting percentage, ahead of only Houston’s Alperin Sengun (36.4) and Washington’s Alex Sarr (33.7).
As a comparison, Ayton is at 58.6 from that distance, Detroit’s Jalen Duren at 53% and Holmgren 52.
▪ Adebayo’s offensive rating — the points per 100 possessions scored by the Heat when he’s on the court - ranks 34th among centers.
▪ Adebayo has scored 20 points in only nine of his 31 appearances. He’s on a pace for 10 games with 20 or more points, which would put him well below his number of 20 point games last season (31) and the season before (39).
This season, the Heat is 5-4 when he scores 20 and 9-13 when he doesn’t.
Looking for offensive positives?
His 16.4 scoring average still ranks in the top 10 among centers (ninth).
And one area where Adebayo’s shooting remains decent is 10 to 14 feet; he’s at 44.2% at 34 for 77.
Adebayo takes far more of those 10 to 14 footers than any center in the league. Among centers, his 77 such attempts are well ahead of No. 2 Sengun (62 attempts) and Denver’s Nikola Jokic (48).
Adebayo said last month that there’s no mystery behind the offensive slump, and it’s simply “shots not falling.”
If they don’t start falling soon, concerns will only intensify.
Game rescheduled
The NBA rescheduled last week’s canceled Heat at Bulls game for Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. The teams were supposed to meet Jan. 30 in Miami but instead will now meet at 8 p.m. Jan. 31 at Kaseya Center. Last Thursday’s game at the United Center was canceled because of condensation on the floor.