Bam Adebayo is among the Miami Heat’s top options on offense. Some view him as a star in the NBA, but one former player doesn’t share this same view. According to him, Adebayo is not among the top-tier stars in the league.
Former NBA Champion States That Bam Adebayo Is Not A Star
Adebayo is among the primary options for coach Erik Spoelstra on the Heat’s offense. Depending on what defenses are showing, he could be relied upon to put points up for his team. However, according to a former player, this doesn’t make him a star.
That former player is Jeff Teague, who won a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021. Teague labeled Adebayo as a “good player” on “Club 520,” but denied that he’s a true star.
“Bam don’t really be killing, he’s just a good player,” Teague said. “He’s not a star. He’s a good complimentary piece. He’s still a quality player, fringe All-Star.”
Teague also said that in order for the Heat center to play at his best, he needs to share the court with a capable point guard. He specifically named one of the top stars that is reportedly being shopped as a solid piece who’ll elevate the Heat center’s game.
“I think if they get Ja Morant, some new blood in there that can run pick-and-rolls with him, I think he’ll step up,” Teague said. “I just don’t think he’s playing with a pure point guard right now.”
Jeff Teague says Bam Adebayo is a good ‘complimentary piece’ but not a star 👀
“Bam don’t really be killing. He’s just a good player. He’s not a star. He’s a good complimentary piece. He’s still a quality player, fringe All Star. I think if they get Ja Morant some new blood in… pic.twitter.com/Gp3CfxcT3O
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) January 12, 2026
Adebayo’s scoring this season has been on a downward trend. Over his last ten games, he’s put up only 11.7 points per game with an average of 11.9 attempts. Out of the 31 games he’s played in this year, he’s been held to single-digit scoring six times.
This includes Sunday’s 112-124 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he went 3-for-10 for six points. What he lacked in the scoring department, he made up for by crashing the boards, ending the night with 14 rebounds. However, this isn’t his lowest-scoring performance this season.
In an early-season loss to the Denver Nuggets back on Nov. 5, he put up only two points. However, that was a special case as he only played around eight minutes before having to leave the game due to a left foot injury. Coming into that game, he was averaging 22.4 points on 46.2% shooting.
Since that game, he’s only been averaging 14.7 points on a marginally lower 44.0% shooting.
For all his shortcomings on offense, Adebayo is still one of the most impressive workhorses in the league. His effort allows him to crash the boards with regularity. He’s also a pest on the defensive end, and while it doesn’t reflect on the stat sheet all the time, his defense can be a game-changer.
