So, it turns out that Bam Adebayo really pays attention to all the speculations media houses make before every game. Yes! Veteran NBA analyst, Brian Windhorst claimed that Bam Adebayo will suffer the same fate as Jayson Tatum did in the Group C opener match. Per Windhorst’s speculations, Adebayo should have been benched in yesterday’s Team USA matchup against South Sudan. But Adebayo didn’t.

Instead, he made a rather loud impact on the court with his incredible performance. Adebayo managed to put across 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, and an assist. His efficiency was one of the primary reasons for acting as a driving force for the entire team yesterday, as we saw Steph Curry and Jayson Tatum did not perform well.

For Windhorst, it was probably game over as he revealed how well he had received this message sent by the NBA player. “Bam Adebayo was all over me after the game because I speculated that he might be the player that would see his minutes to get Tatum back in the game.”

Windhorst too was impressed by Adebayo’s performance, and he didn’t shy away from speaking about it, whilst accepting his mistake: “And all he did was score 18 points and have seven rebounds, probably the best games every played for the national team and he gave me extreme side eye for daring to speculate that he might not play.

Per Windhorst, Team USA is a phenomenal work of art right now, going into the Olympics with the best of the best. The depth of the team is something that sets it apart from others around the world. As per him, its not just Adebayo but everyone who can easily get a medal home. “This is the thing. This team is so deep, this is what they’re going to do. And the second unit that they used in this game, was stocked with great defensive players. And South Sudan, and Serbia before them, and probably more teams after them can’t compete with that second unit. That’s why the US is winning these games.”

Although Brian’s prediction went wrong, it was not just about Adebayo. It also had Jayson Tatum as part of it, with a logical speculation. But Adebayo seemed to have taken it by heart since he also addressed it on social media.

Bam Adebayo responds to Brian’s prediction regarding Jayson Tatum and himself

Ahead of the South Sudan game on Wednesday, the theory that compelled Brian to make such speculation stemmed from Jayson Tatum. Kerr clearly mentioned that he’ll go with correct matchups and that’s why he benched Jayson Tatum in the first game against Serbia. Following the same trail, he landed speculation on Pat McAfee Show, “South Sudan’s got a bunch of athletic wing players. Tatum’s gonna be out there. They’re gonna be switching all of those screens because they gotta play the perimeter.”

It was a fairly strategic approach since Sudan put up 21 points from the arc against Team USA. Therefore, it was not something coming out of any prejudice or agenda. However, the criticism did not get to skip Adebayo, as after delivering a charging play, he responded to Brian’s speculation on X as well. He replied with a renowned GIF of rapper 50 Cent that conveys that there was no meaning in including him in the benching conversation.

It seems like the show stealer Adebayo took it personally and made his sole purpose of proving the ESPN insider wrong on the world stage. Well, wrong or right, it was ultimately great for Team USA. Now, the next step for the team is the last pool against Puerto Rico, which is also expected to be a blowout victory. What’s your prediction this time for the margin by which Team USA wins? Let us know in the comments.

Before you go, do not forget to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.