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Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat looks on against the Detroit Pistons during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center on March 08, 2026 in Miami, Florida.
Bam Adebayo scored 83 points for the Miami Heat on Tuesday in what was the second-highest scoring game in NBA history.
While Adebayo’s historic performance took the NBA world and social media by storm, the star himself dropped an Instagram post reacting to his legendary night with a simple, three-word response.
“Wilt. Me. Kobe,” Adebayo wrote on Instagram, as he posed with the ’83’ number written on a piece of paper, resembling Wilt Chamberlain’s famous photo from his 100-point game.
Chamberlain stillhas the highest-scoring game in NBA history,hitting the 100-point markback in 1962. Adebayo’s 83 points are now the second-most in a single game, as he passed the late Kobe Bryant’s 81-point performance back in 2006.
Adebayo’s Reaction To Historic 83-Point Game
Speaking directly after the game, Adebayo also made his feelings clear after becoming only the third player in the history of professional basketball to hit the 80-point mark.
“Wilt, me, then Kobe,” Adebayo said. “It sounds crazy.”
“For me, it was just remaining calm, remaining locked in and understanding that I can go for something special. I didn’t think itwas going to be 83. But to have this moment is surreal, because like I said, man, to be able to do it at home, in front of my mom, in front of my people, in front of the home fans, this is a mark in history thatwill forever be remembered.”
Adebayo made sure to pay homage to Bryant when speaking about his 83-point game, as he said the late Los Angeles Lakers superstar was a major inspiration for him growing up.
“That was my idol growing up. I watched howhe approached the game… with that laser focus,” Adebayotold ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt after the game. “I wonder what he would say to me at this point. He’d probably tell me to do it again.”
Whileduring the game, Adebayo was breaking both personal and franchise records left and right, he ended the game scoring the second-most points in NBA history. The Heat star said that it was a ‘surreal’ moment, specifically as it relates to passing Bryant on the single-game scoring leaderboard.
“Just a surreal moment,” Abebayo said. “Just being in the company with somebody I idolized growing up.”
Adebayo also finished the game shooting 20/43 from the field, 7/22 from three, and 36/43 from the free-throw line, with eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks in 42 minutes in the now-historic game.
He set the record for the most free throws made in a game, and it was the most points scored sincethe three-point line was introduced to the NBA.
Miami Heat Coach Eric Spoelstra Reacts To Bam Adebayo’s 83 Points
While fans at the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami were on the edge of their seats waiting to see what Adebayo’s final point total would be, Heat head coach Eric Spoelstra said postgame that he never thought about taking the big man out.
“I didn’t dare even think about taking him out,” Spoelstra said, despite Miami holding a sizeable late-game lead. “Once he got to 40, I didn’t go anywhere near him…who knew I would be superstitious?”
Spoelstra, who has had a courtside view of some of theother most historic games in NBA and Heat historyfrom Shaquille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James, made sure to give praise to Adebayo for his performance.
“An absolutely surreal night,” Spoelstra added. “Obviously, we’ve been blessed to have been part of a lot of big moments in this arena. This one, it just happened. Moments happen, and I’m grateful that we’re all able to be a part of it and witness it.”
Once Adebayowas taken out in the final minute of the game, after passing Bryant’s previously insurmountable 81-point mark, he greeted Spoelstra with an embrace.
While some NBA players, coaches, and fans have already criticized the Heat star’s performance andhow he reached the 83-point total, the overwhelming sentiment is thathistory shouldbe celebrated.
Though it remains tobe seen if any NBA player will ever break Chamberlain’s 100 points in a single game, Adebayo’s 83 points now stand near the top of the basketball pantheon as one of the most prolific scoring games in the history of the sport.