Bam Adebayo

Bam Adebayo is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected with the 14th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets and then traded on draft night to Miami. Adebayo played college basketball for one season with Kentucky Wildcats, where he earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors.

Adebayo was born Edrice Femi “Bam” Adebayo in Newark, New Jersey, on July 18 1997. He grew up playing AAU basketball for NJ Playaz and graduated from High School Northside in Pinetown, North Carolina. After high school, he was a five-star recruit and chose to play one season of college ball at Kentucky after considering scholarship offers from NC State, Louisville and St John’s among others. During his lone season at Kentucky he averaged 13 points per game as well as 8 rebounds per game which earned him 2nd team All-SEC honors as well as being named to the SEC All- Freshman Team while leading them to a Sweet Sixteen appearance in the NCAA Tournament before ultimately losing to eventual national champion North Carolina Tar Heels.

On June 22 2017 , Adebayo was selected with 14th overall pick in first round of NBA draft by Charlotte Hornets but his rights were immediately traded later that night to Miami Heat alongside cash considerations exchange for forward/center Josh McRoberts .He quickly established himself Miami’s starting center during his rookie campaign averaging 6 points 5 rebounds 1 assists 0 steals 0 blocks 19 minutes over 74 games . By 2019–20 , Bam emerged as an elite two way big averaging 15+ ppg 10+ rpg 1 spg 1 bpg 30 minutes over 65 games . His outstanding display that year saw him selected onto 2020 all star team , earring career high 24 ppg 13 rpg 4 apg 2 spg 2 bpg 34 minutes over 64 games this past regular season followed by tremendous playoff performance helped lead miami heat advance into 2020 nba finals including 21 pts 11 rebs 3 blks 37 mins against Boston Celtics during Eastern Conference Finals series clincher

Off court Bam is very active philanthropically running numerous camps clinics projects through “The Bam Foundation” including several across northern Florida area where he lives currently helping out people less fortunate than himself raising money provide safe uplifting learning environments children young adults within community . In 2021 adebyao signed $163 million contract extension with heat rewarding loyalty commitment franchise has shown throughout time . As result now being paid top tier money bam continues gear up lead miami future deep runs championships come!