Even after a poor shooting start, Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo has taken a noticeable leap from 3-point range in 2024-25 after showing glimpses of extending his range late last season.
The three-time All-Star is shooting 35.7 percent from 3-point range on a career-most 2.8 triple tries per game this season. Last year, he hoisted just 0.8 3-pointers per game, even though he was taking 1.6 per game over his final 17 games before shooting 10 total 3s in five postseason contests.
Better yet, over his 35 games, the 6-foot-9 big is shooting 43.5 percent from beyond the arc, including 47.2 percent on 3.6 3-pointers per game over his last 20.
Adebayo canned four of his six triples in 22 minutes in the Heat’s record-setting win Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans. After the game, head coach Erik Spoelstra was asked about Adebayo’s development from deep and the comparison to Hall of Famer Chris Bosh, who also expanded his shooting range in his time with the Heat.
Erik Spoelstra praises Bam Adebayo’s “constant evolution” with Heat:
Both Bosh and Adebayo were forced to modernize their shot profile for the betterment of the team. In Bosh’s case, he had to sacrifice and modify his shot diet to help make the Big 3–with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade–work functionally on offense.
Well, he parlayed his development into two NBA Titles, four East titles and six All-Star appearances with Miami before his career prematurely ended due to blood clots.
For Adebayo, as the Heat have leaned into more size in their frontcourt–specifically with first-round rookie Kel’el Ware–he’s had to become a more reliable floor spacer.
Spoelstra discussed the comparison between the two players and complimented Adebayo’s willingness to continue to evolve, similar to Bosh’s over a decade ago.
“It’s a little bit different because [Chris Bosh] was a really good 17-18-foot shooter right out of the gate coming into the league,” Spoelstra said. “By the time he got to us, all it was was extending it from 18-19 feet to behind the NBA 3-point line–and really we started from the corners. … Bam came in as a dominant effort, energy defender, winning player, lob threat. And then he developed some ballhandling, facilitating skills that were different than what CB had.
“What is common about both of them is there is commitment to constant evolution and improvement. That’s the thing I appreciate about Bam. He goes to work. He goes to work and adds new things that can help your team.”
To Spoelstra’s point, Adebayo’s continued to develop from a rim-running, defensive-minded big into a more all-around player. Few players are tasked to do as much on a nightly basis as he is, which is why his raw numbers don’t necessarily indicate his full body of work.
His evolution as a 3-point shooter has been a joy to watch. While he still isn’t afraid to get to the 5-10-foot range with his push floater, he’s far more comfortable as a 3-point shooter than he was two seasons ago.
There was a slight step back in confidence in November and December of this year. Though the 10th-year big man was trying to get anything to fall–let alone his 3-point shot. Adebayo’s confidence was shot, but as he began to build it back up, you saw him make shots from all areas of the floor.
What are your thoughts about Spoelstra’s comments and Adebayo’s development as a 3-point shooter? Let us know in the comments!
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