Bam Adebayo recently revealed his list of the top five NBA players of all time. Notably, he left out LeBron James – a player widely regarded as the greatest or second-greatest ever, who recently opted to join the Philadelphia 76ers over Adebayo's Miami Heat.
His selection features Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, and Tim Duncan.
Although the 29-year-old center excluded James from his list, he spoke positively about the veteran superstar's free agency decision.
"I'm cool with Bron," Adebayo told reporters. "I consider Bron like a brother, honestly. We've been Olympic teammates but even before that we’ve always had down-to-earth conversations."
"I'm happy for him. You want what's best for somebody. That’s really how you go from there."
Heat set to face LeBron James again after failed free agency pursuit
This summer, the Miami Heat were among several teams aggressively pursuing LeBron James during his high-profile unrestricted free agency.
Ultimately, the hunt proved unsuccessful; the four-time NBA MVP chose the Philadelphia 76ers as the next destination in his illustrious career.
James signed a remarkable two-year, $8 million veteran's minimum contract with the 76ers. By joining a stacked roster headlined by Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Jaylen Brown, he has positioned himself for a legitimate run at a fifth championship ring.
Once James informed the Los Angeles Lakers he would not return, the Heat began envisioning a reunion. James previously led Miami to back-to-back titles and four straight Finals appearances last decade, and following their blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Pat Riley and the front office pushed hard to bring the superstar back to South Beach.
Instead, the Heat must prepare to face James as a divisional rival. With the 76ers now bolstered by his arrival, anticipation for the upcoming NBA season has reached a fever pitch.