Instead of being celebrated for scoring 83 points in a single game, Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo is facing backlash from the public.
Adebayo went 20-of-43 from the field and 36-of-43 from the free throw line against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night. His 83 points were the most recorded by an NBA player in a single game since the late Kobe Bryant had 81 points for the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 22, 2006.
During an appearance on "The Gilbert Arenas Show," former NBA guard Nick Young questioned the integrity of Adebayo's performance.
Young also made a ridiculous claim that Bryant is "rolling in his grave" over Adebayo scoring 83 points in a single game.
"F*** Bam and the Wizards. F*** all that 'records are supposed to be broken.' The Wizards are a G League team. Kobe probably rolling over in his grave right now," Young said. "I like Bam, but he don't deserve that."
Bryant and Young were teammates on the Lakers from 2013-16, but that doesn't justify making a wild comment like that.
Bam Adebayo fires back.
During this Thursday's media availability, Adebayo made it clear that he won't apologize for his 83-point performance.
"I've got 70 with, what, nine minutes left to go in the game? You think I'm not going for it? ... Who would be like, 'You know, Coach, just take me out.' Yeah, right," Adebayo said. "You can't be mad at that. If you are mad, I don't care. Because a lot of people, if they did play, they never had a chance to get that close to chasing greatness. And if you get that close to chasing greatness, that's the point of chasing it -- so you can surpass it."
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra had an even better response to all the criticism. He told reporters, "I apologize to absolutely no one."
The Heat will be back in action Saturday night against the Orlando Magic.
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