On Tuesday night, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo scored the second-most points in a single game in NBA history on March 10. He put up 83 points in the Miami Heat’s win over the Washington Wizards. However, his performance was not without controversy surrounding his free-throw attempts.
Bam Adebayo Shatters Kobe Bryant’s 81-Point Record Sparks Reaction
Notably, Adebayo passed Kobe Bryant’s 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 22, 2006. The Los Angeles Lakers legend shot 28-of-46 from the field, 7-of-13 from beyond the arc, and 18-of-20 at the free-throw line. Adebayo took some of these numbers to a whole new level. The Heat’s star center went 20-of-43 from the floor, 7-of-22 from 3-point range, and a whopping 36-of-43 from the free-throw line.
Adebayo walked off the Kaseya Center floor Tuesday night having just recorded the second-highest scoring game in NBA history. He also walked into a buzzsaw of criticism that exposed a glaring double standard in how NBA fans and media discuss free throws.
CBS Sports analyst Ashley Nicole Moss didn’t let the contradiction slide; she gave her thoughts on Adebayo’s historic night but took a controversial stance. In the aftermath of Adebayo’s 83-point explosion against the Washington Wizards, Moss took aim at those who’ve spent the season labeling Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a “free throw merchant” while remaining silent about Adebayo’s record-setting 43 trips to the foul line.
READ MORE: Lakers Fans Make Feelings Clear on Bam Adebayo Surpassing Kobe Bryant’s Iconic 81-Point Game
“Serious question – how can you (on a nightly basis) have an issue with what [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander] does (and craftily at that), but not someone going to the line 40+ times? That’s not a contradiction? … and that’s all I have on the subject, lol,” Moss expressed.
serious question – how can you (on a nightly basis) have an issue with what SGA does (and craftily at that), but not someone going to the line 40+ times? that’s not a contradiction?
– Ashley Nicole Moss (@AshNicoleMoss) March 11, 2026
Moss claims that some NBA fans downplay Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to get to the charity stripe. The Oklahoma City Thunder superstar takes 9.2 free-throw attempts per game this season, but some fans see this as “unethical” scoring, despite the skill it takes to put defenders in bad situations. However, they praise Adebayo’s 83-point performance, even though it required enormous free-throw volume.
Heat Clips even posted a video of every foul that resulted in Adebayo’s free throws for the game. The Wizards’ young defenders certainly hacked the three-time All-Star a lot and had no chance of stopping him, but toward the end of the contest, Adebayo hunted for points. He scored most of his fourth-quarter points from the charity stripe, attempting 16 free throws in the final period.
The NBA often posts each game’s Last Two Minute Report the following afternoon. It will reveal whether officials made the correct calls down the stretch that led to Adebayo breaking Bryant’s record.
