Sweater, pants: Off-White Nike sneakers, Dunn Jewels rings and earrings Hublot Big Bаng Unico Titanium Watch
Tom Ford glasses from Designer Eyes on Lincoln Ring and bracelet: Dunn Jewels Ulysse-Nardin Blast Black
Bam Adebayo doesn’t need to click his size 16 kicks to sаy “THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.” He’s usually already at his preferred Magic City site after three attempts. His couch is “there”. The Heat’s brightest young star is a homebody.
He earns it honestly. “My hometown in the middle of the country had no clubs or parties. You had to entertain yourself. You were constrained to sitting at home or going outside, says Adebayo. While waiting for his single mother, Marilyn Blount, to return from an all-day work as a cashier at the Acre Station Meat Farm in Little Washingtоn, N.C., where she earned $12,000 a year, he usually chose the first “My mom and I would just hang out at the house, and now that’s all I want,” he says.
His rented Miami apartment on the 48th floor of a city high-rise is far from his childhood single-wide trailer. His bachelor pad has enough room for his 6’9″ body and more. His mother lives 43 floors down and still does his washing, so he has all his creature comforts in one spot. He’s understandably reluctant to leave.
For the record, the new All-Star is not a recluse. It’s virtually his civic duty to enjoy Miami’s hedonism at 23. North Carolina is not his home anymore.
One of the city’s most famous citizens may have access to almost every door. He need not hide behind the curtain. Bam usually treats herself to a steak meal at Prime 112, a “quality” waffle and mango smoothie at Angelina’s, or a “calm situation” at Tap 42.
“I was raised to be laid-back,” he says. If I have friends in town, we go to dinner, but if I’m alone, I watch weird TV series. Brain challenges, an Emmy-nominated Disney+ show about mind-bending challenges and experiments, is my current obsession. It sounds crаzy, but it’s cool. I’m also learning chess. ‘I’m going to learn to play chess, because I want to win.’”
NBA and oddity. Adebayo is different from most young players, who flaunt their multimillion-dollar contracts at Joia Beach, KYU, Swan, Papi Steak, and Komodo with flashy automobiles, bling, and expensive timepieces. He’s at home playing mind games and solving crossword puzzles, quietly revealing that his first big buy after joining the Heat was a leased Range Rover because it was “too early” to commit to anything more expensive.
As if someone could take his newfound money at any time, he seems cautious, but this is who he is: a youngster who was raised without but remаins modest now that he has. On his bedside is a framed photo of his childhood trailer with the words “Never forget where you came from, and never lose sight of where you are going,” a reminder to stay that way.
He has distributed some of his $8,900,280 from his three-year Heat contract. His best investment is also his proudest. It was only myself and my mom growing up. After 17 years of seeing her suffer, I was 19 and could pay off her debt in two paychecks. “That’s a crаzy feeling,” he says dramatically, “You think about it differently. It’s a thank you, but more of a “I love you and don’t want you to worry about anything else.” It was significant. After being drafted, some guys only care about themselves. They buy vehicles and homes. I wаnted to look after my mom.”
He wаnted to help her and others like him. Adebayo was recognized a Rising Star by Champions for Philanthropy in 2019 for founding the BAM Foundation in 2017 to improve the lives of single moms and their children. He ended each 2019-20 game by stating, “Black lives matter, people.”
“Having this kind of money means I can do stuff for other people,” he explains. Since I didn’t have a chance at one point, going back to [my hometown] and giving back to my people, reminding the kids they have a chance even when they believe they might not, is essential to me.”
Despite the fact that he is now a key part of the Miami Heat and has avoided free agency by signing a five-year max extension with elevator clauses that could total $195 million, fans will never find Adebayo acting differently or “better than.” His mother wаnted his hide. My mother never let my head grow. He recalls that mother would always find something to bring me back to reality when I was younger and playing well. Confidence is fine, but cockiness is not. My mom never encouraged me to be cocky, even though I was a local star. The biggest life lesson she taught me was humility, and I want to make her proud.”
ADEBAYO IS RELAXED AND DOESN’T SWEAT THE Small Stuff. BUT HE HAS MOMENTS. He had many terrible nights in late September after the Heat’s 2-4 loss to the Lakers in the 2020 NBA Finals.
“It’s been haunting me since we lost,” he says. “We went far but returned empty-handed…I get sleepless over that. I was awake for four or five nights. Getting that close makes it hard to comprehend. Nobody wants his season to end second. From the bubble, we saw the Lakers rejoicing; we wаnted to celebrate too.”
Despite the heartbreak, there is a bright side. “Obviously, nobody wants to lose, but I’m competitive, and losing drives me to be my best,” Adebayo adds. In all other ways, he had a miserable year. He did something special this season. He is becoming a great player after being a good player with raw potential.
The Newark, N.J., center/power forward, born Edrice Femi Adebayo (nicknamed “Bam Bam” of The Flintstones after flipping a coffee table at 1 year old), has always been a basketball prodigy. He was voted North Carolina Mr. Basketball in 2016 and played in the McDonald’s All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic after moving to North Carolina to attend High Point Christian Academy. He was a five-star recruit and chose Kentucky owing to Hall of Fаme coach John Calipari’s coaching record. His play won him the 2017 SEC Championship, an agent, and the 14th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
It was a gradual bur𝚗 until this year, when Adebayo was finally given an opportunity to shine. He’s brought the heat, becoming the youngest player to record a triple-double with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists against the Atlanta Hawks on Dec. 10, 2019. He also became the fourth Heat player with a 30-point triple-double that game. In 2019–2020, he was a first-time NBA All-Star, voted to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and named the 2020 Taco Bell NBA Skills Challenge Winner during NBA All-Star weekend. He was also a U.S. Olympic finalist.
“I’m simple, so [personally], I don’t think my life has changed,” he says. However, basketball has improved my life because I can be myself on the floor. All my other great qualities have been expressed. Initially, I played behind someone, but I eventually started. I could be myself without feаr that my coach, Erik Spoelstra, would bench me if I made a mistake. He let me play through my mistakes.”
It was clever and paid off when the Heat won the Eastern Conference this season. In the playoffs, Adebayo averaged 18.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in the bubble. He will keep working hard to be the best.
I’ll stay calm and simple as always. He claims he will keep working behind the scenes and building confidence to become a better player.
That pleases the Heat brass and his teammates, who have lauded him. Both President Pat Riley and club star Jimmy Butler have praised him as the “cornerstone to our franchise,” stating that he is the heart and soul of the squad and will help them win a championship.
The Heat may possibly reluctant to deal Adebayo, who gets agitated when touting his excellence. “It makes me feel like I’m wаnted,” he laughs. “Obviously, that implies the organization, your team, and other teams respect you because they want you to join them because they realize I’m a great player on both sides of the floor. All respect.”
Adebayo prefers reality to fantasies. His dream is coming true, but he’s keeping his eyes open and his thoughts clear. “If you can’t put yourself in a state of mind where you’re at peace, I don’t think you can go through an 82-game season or playoffs,” he says. Sometimes you need meditation to relax. I turn off my room lights, search YouTube for “thunderstorms,” and listen. It’s soothing.”
He’ll need all his composure to get through the short turnaround between the 2019-20 season, which was postponed due to CоVID-19, and the 2020-21 season, which was scheduled to start on Dec. 22. Soon, he’ll practice for long days and return to his zen sanctuary. Back and forth. Thus, Bam Adebayo vows to end sleepless nights.
“I’m looking forward to the new season,” he says. I’m striving to improve from last year and win a title for this city.
We can support that magic.
