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Mitchell also spoke of the tantalizing defensive possibilities with a roster featuring Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins and himself. “People knew where to put Bam because they know how good he is defensively,” Mitchell said. “But now they have [to deal with] Giannis too? Where are they going to put him? I can pick somebody out of bounds, and if they blow by me, I know someone will have my back. “They want to win Defensive Player of the Year too just as much as we do. We have this competitive spirit, where, ‘I’m trying to win Defensive Player of the Year’ and ‘I’m trying to win Defensive Player of the Year.’ “We have three, really four [great defenders], with Wiggs. There are some matchups he guards the best player. Sometimes I do. I’ve got shifty, quicker guys. He’s got guys who are much taller, get to their spots. The defense is going to be amazing. I can’t wait.”
Heat Central: Donovan Mitchell believes this Heat team adding Giannis and Klay Thompson will be a dangerous team: “All he (Klay) gotta do is stand right there because Giannis has so much gravity. If you help on Giannis, who you gonna help off of? That’s what makes them dangerous. They also got Davion, Wiggins, Bam, Larsson. And they got Spo. He’s a great coach. — Klay is a top 5 shooter ever!”
Heat Central: Norman Powell believes the Heat got WAY BETTER with the Giannis trade: “Anytime you get a generational talent like that it automatically puts you into contention. He’s a generational player… They got some dawgs. Shoutout my man D Mitch. Off night and Bam. They gonna be good. I’m excited to see how it all comes together. They signed Klay. That’s a good pickup for them. They made some good moves”
Legion Hoops: Gabe Vincent says Bam Adebayo has to rent out the entire theater in order to go see a movie: “That’s cool to do, but when you go to the movies, do you really wanna spend $1,500?” 💀 (via The Rookie & The Vet with Trey Mourning/YT)
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Ira Winderman: Klay on playing off Giannis and Bam, "For myself, I'm going to get so many great looks. . . . It's almost limitless what we can do." Adds, "Coming into this building gives me a whole new jolt of energy."
Heat Central: Max Strus on Bam Adebayo: “Me and Bam are tight. Bam’s awesome. That’s the last person I would want to mess with. Donovan Mitchell is a specimen but Bam Adebayo, holy sh*t. He’s a big dude.” (Via @PardonMyTake)
There was mutual interest between DeRozan and the Heat, and Bam Adebayo and DeRozan communicated throughout the summer, sources said. But the Heat ultimately made Klay Thompson their priority and are expected to sign Thompson once he clears waivers after a buyout with the Dallas Mavericks, sources told ESPN.
Shams Charania: Klay Thompson and the Mavericks navigated a buyout from his $17.5 million expiring salary after the four-time NBA champion made it clear to Dallas that he wanted to play for a contender. The Heat made one of the NBA's all-time greatest shooters their top free agent priority this summer to surround Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo and waited nearly two months on his release.
Ben Golliver: Star homecoming games in 2026-27 NBA season - Trae Young's Wizards at Hawks: Nov. 6 - Paul George's Celtics at 76ers: Nov. 10 - Tyler Herro's Bucks at Bam Adebayo's Heat: Nov. 18 - LeBron James's 76ers at Lakers: Dec. 25 - Jaylen Brown's 76ers at Celtics: Jan. 21 - Giannis Antetokounmpo's Heat at Bucks: Jan. 28 - Ja Morant's Blazers at Grizzlies: Feb. 6 - LaMelo Ball's Timberwolves at Hornets: Feb. 15
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Heat Central: Gabe Vincent stands up for Bam Adebayo getting slandered for scoring 83 points and passing Kobe: “Why is it a problem to score more than Kobe? He gotta shoot more turn around or what? If there was more step backs and crossovers and he had 83 would you like it more? — it’s not easy to put up 83 points in a gym by yourself. I gotta tip my hat. We still don’t have footage of wilt…. Obviously Bam is my guy but I feel for him from the backlash he got” (Via @notbpod)
NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo and LaMelo Ball debut for their new teams 💥 Newly formed teammates Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo meet LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards in a must-watch Opening Week showdown! 📅 Wednesday, October 21 on ESPN
Similar to Antetokounmpo on the offensive end, Bam Adebayo being on the floor has meant good things for the Heat defensively. Over the last five seasons, Heat lineups including Adebayo have never finished below the 75th percentile leaguewide, according to Cleaning the Glass. Those lineups finished the 2023-24 season in the 89th percentile and the 2021-22 season in the 94th percentile. Last season was the first time the Heat finished outside of the top 10 in defensive rating since the 2014-15 campaign.
“I’m just trying to be the best player I can be. I don’t take anybody’s — whatever they think is how they’re going to think,” continued Mitchell, who is due $12.4 million this upcoming season in the final year of his contract. “Honestly, I can’t really change the way they think. But for me, I’m just going to go out there and get better. Obviously, trying to build a chemistry with Giannis. Obviously, people see me in Greece. Building chemistry with Bam [Adebayo], obviously seeing those things. But just trying to be the best teammate I can be for them.” As for Mitchell’s workouts in Greece with Antetokounmpo last month, he called them “amazing.” “He’s a winner. He just wants to win,” Mitchell said of Antetokounmpo.
