Bam Adebayo’s 83-point performance against the Washington Wizards was historic by any standard, but the reaction that followed wasn’t nearly as straightforward. While the Miami Heat star recorded the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, the way it unfolded, especially late in the game, drew criticism across the league. Oklahoma City Thunder star Chet Holmgren recently shared his take on Adebayo’s 83-point performance, and he didn’t see anything wrong with how it happened.
Chet Holmgren Dismisses Criticism of Bam Adebayo’s 83-Point Night
Adebayo’s 83-point performance came in a 150-129 win over the Wizards, a game that was largely under control by the fourth quarter. He caught fire early, scoring 31 points in the first quarter and reaching 43 by halftime. By the end of the third, he had 62, already setting a franchise record. The final push, however, is what drew attention.
Adebayo finished 36-of-43 from the free-throw line, setting NBA records for both attempts and makes. He took 16 of those attempts in the fourth quarter, as the Heat continued to run the offense through him. The team also used late fouls and a challenge to extend possessions, allowing him to surpass Kobe Bryant’s 81-point mark.
The performance placed him second all-time behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100, but the circumstances led to criticism, with many calling the approach excessive and questioning the legitimacy of the moment.
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When Holmgren was asked on the “Gil’s Arena” podcast whether he would feel bad if he scored 83 points in a similar manner, his answer was straightforward and supportive of Adebayo’s feat:
“Would I feel bad? HELL NO. I’ve seen a lot of discourse on it too, there’s no right way or wrong way to score 83. If you could score 83 every single player would say ‘I don’t care how I have to do it. I would do it.’ Credit to him for making that happen.”
Holmgren’s view reflects how players tend to see such performances. Recently, Adebayo himself pushed back on the criticism while reacting to Luka Dončić’s 60-point explosion against the Heat.
“He hit some tough shots out there. It is what it is. I know what it’s like to be in that mode. As people can see, it’s not easy to get 80. He made some tough shots.”
Recently, former NBA guard Patrick Beverley also defended the performance on his new podcast, “The Pat Bev Show,” sharing similar reasoning as Holmgren:
“83 is as real as it gets,” he said. “You can’t wake up and just get 83. If it was fake, every motherf**ker would be getting those fake numbers. So, no, you gotta give Bam a lot of credit, man. He did that.”
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Holmgren, a 7-foot-1 defensive anchor for the Thunder, is coming off an 18-point, 10-rebound, 2-block performance in a 132-111 win over the Wizards, his second double-double in five games.
While Holmgren’s role differs from Adebayo’s, his response highlights a consistent mindset among players. The debate may continue outside the locker room. Inside it, the reaction is simpler. If someone gets 83, players aren’t debating the method; they’re giving credit.
