ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst shared a wild story about Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo getting upset with him during the 2024 Summer Olympics. Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was under criticism for not playing superstar Jayson Tatum due to the roster being too stacked. Windhorst said that Tatum might deserve playing time over Adebayo to upset the center.
The following quote from Windhorst was shared on The Hoop Collective explaining the situation:
“I was explaining on TV, ‘I don’t see how Jayson Tatum is going to play unless somebody else doesn’t play.’ And I was like, ‘Maybe Bam Adebayo [shouldn’t play]. So, I said that on American TV. And the next day. Bam was like, “Really? I’m not gonna play? I defend 1 through 5, bro.’”
Adebayo approached Windhorst in person, but he wasn’t hostile or combative beyond making his point. The defensive versatility of Adebayo explained why Kerr made him one of the featured players getting strong minutes. International teams struggled to deal with a defender like Bam, who could easily make switches or play his opposing center one on one. Windhorst joked about it today and confirmed it wasn’t even a negative interaction.
Windhorst Revealed Why Kerr Benched Tatum
The story shared by Windhorst actually shared a deeper look into Kerr’s thinking for making his controversial coaching decisions during the Olympics. Kerr felt Tatum’s game was too similar to other forwards with greater accolades, like Kevin Durant and LeBron James. Neither of the top legends would be benched in potentially their final Olympics run for the younger option.
Tatum wasn’t going to play over the guards, so the best bet was to eat into Adebayo’s minutes. Kerr ended up trusting Adebayo more than former MVP Joel Embiid in the center position for some of the most important games and closing stretches.
Adebayo’s ability to defend any player on the court showed why Kerr kept prioritizing him and some other names over Tatum. Too many great players on the team meant that some names would be forced to play limited minutes compared to their expectations. Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton both received a lot of bench time from Kerr’s plan.
Retired Legend Says Adebayo Should Play In 2028
The upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics is already getting attention for fans and pundits forecasting which names will be on the roster. Veterans Durant and Stephen Curry are reported to have strong interest in chasing one more gold medal.
Retired NBA player Joe Johnson recently named Adebayo as an important player for 2028’s roster selection:
“Bam’s like a Hybrid. He can handle the ball, he can initiate your offense, he can pass, he can play make, he can do a little bit of everything. Bam is like a little wild card; I like having Bam on there.”
If Adebayo is still playing at a high level, he will be considered for the team. American centers are still lacking compared to the guard and forward depth. Team USA may make Adebayo the starting center for 2028 if none of the younger stars clearly emerges above him as the best choice.
Bam Adebayo Confronted Brian Windhorst Over Olympics Take