Selected as the 14th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Edrice Femi “Bam” Adebayo has established himself as a dominant force in both the Center and Power Forward positions. Currently a key player for the Miami Heat, Adebayo earned his third All-Star selection this year.

In the ongoing season, he boasts impressive averages of 20.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 blocks, with a remarkable 51% field goal percentage. Bam Adebayo has added impressive accolades to his career, notably becoming the third player in Miami Heat history, alongside Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James, to achieve a postseason game with 20 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists.

This remarkable feat marked his twenty-third playoff double-double, surpassing Dwayne Wade (22) and trailing only behind LeBron James (31) in the Heat’s history. Furthermore, Adebayo clinched a gold medal for Team USA at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. All in all, the Centre is a bonafide NBA star. So, where and how did Adebayo grow up? And how did it all start for a three-time NBA All-Star?

The beginnings of Bam Adebayo

Adebayo’s parents were the late John Adebayo and Marilyn Blout. Marilyn raised Bam as a single parent in North Carolina after her husband left the family for Nigeria. Working as a cashier at the Acre Station Meat Farm and residing in a trailer, she ensured her son had the right opportunities and education to pursue a career in basketball.

It was Marilyn who bestowed upon him the nickname “Bam,” inspired by the character from the Flintstones cartoon. Bam Adebayo consistently expresses admiration for his mother, acknowledging the hardships and sacrifices she endured while raising him.

On the other hand, John Adebayo, a Nigerian, moved to the United States, where he met Blout, and Bam Adebayo was born. However, he eventually returned to Nigeria, reportedly working as a small businessman. He passed away in June 2020.

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Being of mixed ethnicities, Bam reflects the diverse backgrounds of his parents. His mother, Marilyn Blout, is of African-American ethnicity, while his father, John Adebayo, was of Nigerian ethnicity. Despite being an American national, Bam identifies with both African-American and Nigerian ethnicities. A player of his Calber wears his diverse ethic heritage on his sleeve and due to that very reason is humble despite being a superstar.

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