The defending Eastern Conference Champions Miami Heat are well and truly back in the 2023-24 season. The team registered their 5th straight win in the season after defeating the San Antonio Spurs. Moreover, they came back from 19-point deficit twice in 24 hours. Brimming with confidence, the Heat star Bam Adebayo had a word of advice for the NBA regarding the expectation set around Victor Wembanyama.
The #1 pick of 2023 NBA Draft came into the league with skyrocketing expectations. Moreover, experts compared his entry to the frenzy that LeBron James created in 2003. Nevertheless, Wemby didn’t disappoint the NBA world, but at the same, a lot is expected out of the rookie. Let’s find out what Adebayo has to say about the French baller’s heightened expectations.
Bam Adebayo humbles Victor Wembanyama’s expectations
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After winning their fifth consecutive game, the Heat currently stands in the 4th seed of the Eastern Conference points table with a 6-4 record. Bam Adebayo, alongside Duncan Robinson, led the team to a comfortable 113-118 victory. Notably, they helped the side come off a massive deficit in the last quarter, against the towering Victor Wembanyama.
Following the game, Adebayo had nothing but respect for the rookie, as he expressed his opinion of the expectations set around Wemby in a post-game interview.
When asked about playing alongside the 7 ‘4 baller, he gave stern advice to the NBA world. The 26-year-old said, “People putting a lot of expectations on that kid. He is a rookie.” He further narrated his conversation with the Spurs coach, Gregg Popovich, about Wemby.
“It just shows our 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙩, shows our dedication, perseverance…”
Bam Adebayo speaks after the HEAT’s victory in San Antonio to make it 5 straight and move to 6-4@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/yrUYjL7bVa
— Bally Sports Sun: HEAT (@BallyHEAT) November 13, 2023
Adebayo further added, “I was talking to coach Pop on the court… He doesn’t even know his routine right now. He is living up to his expectations. He is trying to get the job done, but he is starting to figure it out.”
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Given the expectations placed on the Frenchman, has he lived up to them? Let’s find out.
Wemby’s NBA career so far
The Spurs have registered only three wins so far in the league and Wembanyama played a huge role in them. In the last 10 games, Wembanyama averaged 18.8 points with an impressive 8.8 rebounds per game. In comparison with King James, the 4x NBA Champ averaged 20.9 points with 5.5 rebounds per game in his rookie season. While it’s too early to tell, the trend shows that the French baller is almost on par with the James comparisons.
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What do you make of Wemby’s game so far in the league? Let us know in the comments below.