Back on March 10, Bam Adebayo delivered arguably the best single-game regular-season performance in recent NBA history, scoring 83 points. While everyone’s been chasing Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point record since 1962, Adebayo’s offensive eruption catapulted him just ahead of Kobe Bryant’s iconic 81-point showing from 2006 for the second-highest point total ever.
Adebayo’s big night was one he and many fans will never forget. Yet, in the minds of the ESPYs, it wasn’t that special.
NBA World Reacts to ESPYs Snubbing Bam Adebayo’s 83-Point Game
On Wednesday in New York, comedian Marcello Hernández hosted the 34th edition of the annual ESPYs. One of the awards that gets voted on each year is “Best Single-Game Performance.” Naturally, Adebayo’s career game came to mind; it’s a no-brainer, right?
Wrong.
The ESPY instead went to Los Angeles Dodgers superstar hitter/pitcher Shohei Ohtani. His performance included hitting 3 home runs while pitching 6 scoreless innings, striking out 10 batters along the way. Oh, and the contest also took place in Game 4 of the Dodgers’ National League Championship Series.
While Ohtani’s performance was excellent in its own right, Adebayo’s game went down in the history books, even if it ranks as the second-highest scoring game rather than the first.
As one can imagine, the NBA community on X was up in arms after the ESPY results were revealed.
“Highest-scoring game with video evidence didn’t win the best single-game performance? ESPYS is a joke,” BamMuse wrote.
Bam Adebayo on March 10th, 2026:
83 points
9 rebounds
3 assists
2 steals
2 blocksHighest scoring game with video evidence didn’t win the best single game performance? ESPYS is a joke. pic.twitter.com/TbEqjUXxhF
— BamMuse (@13amAdebayoMuse) July 16, 2026
“BAM ADEBAYO HAS BEEN ROBBED OF THE BEST SINGLE-GAME PERFORMANCE AWARD AT THE ESPYS. THE HIGHEST-SCORING TELEVISED GAME IN HISTORY OF BASKETBALL,” The HEAT Realm vented.
BAM ADEBAYO HAS BEEN ROBBED OF THE BEST SINGLE-GAME PERFORMANCE AWARD AT THE ESPYS
THE HIGHEST SCORING TELEVISED GAME IN HISTORY OF BASKETBALL pic.twitter.com/3VJa5Z8fNs https://t.co/WlkeeuubcC
— The HEAT Realm (@WadexFlash) July 16, 2026
“Greatest scoring performance in NBA history with video evidence and didn’t win? #Noted #ChipOnTheShoulder #BambaMentality,” Heat Nation reacted.
Bam Adebayo didn’t win Best Single-Game Performance for his 83-point game.
Greatest scoring performance in NBA history with video evidence and didn’t win? #Noted #ChipOnTheShoulder #BambaMentality pic.twitter.com/4JmNDh7BT2
— 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) July 16, 2026
“Bam didn’t win Best Single-Game Performance….💔 We all watched Bam Adebayo drop 83 to pass Kobe with actual footage and they said: ‘Nah…’ 😭” HEAT CULTURE HQ lamented.
Bam didn’t win Best Single Game Performance….💔
We all watched Bam Adebayo drop 83 to pass Kobe with actual footage and they said:
“Nah…” 😭 pic.twitter.com/hW6joBNxjq
— HEAT CULTURE HQ (@HeatCultureHQ) July 16, 2026
Okay, so if Adebayo was able to drop 83 points, and that wasn’t good enough, what will being given even more motivation do for him? Could it place an even bigger chip on his shoulder?
While Adebayo’s game took place in the regular season and Ohtani’s was in the postseason, still, that’s 83 points! Who knows? If the three-time All-Star, who averaged 20.1 points per game this past season, can amass 83 points, maybe someone else can push that envelope even further in the near future.
If so, perhaps that scoring tally will be good enough to win the Best Single-Game Performance at the ESPYs. After all, there have been six 70-point games since 2017, so it’s only a matter of time before someone else goes off in an even bigger way.
