Bam Adebayo gets real about being called the scapegoat after the Heat's terrible start originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After the 2026 offseason, when they acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Miami Heat have suddenly had a terrible start to the 2026-27 NBA season. A major reason for this sluggish start is Bam Adebayo's scoring struggles, especially since Antetokounmpo has been playing well.
Adebayo is only averaging 13 points on a measly 42.9% from the field. It is definitely not a good start for him, which is why his performances have been spotlighted as a major reason for the team's struggles. Adebayo knows he is now playing well, but he does not like being seen as the only reason behind the losses.
Bam Adebayo vows the energy will shift for the Heat after a 0-4 start
Across the roster, no one has been a Heat player longer than Adebayo. He has been the centerpiece for the roster for a long time, but that changed when the team traded for Antetokounmpo in the offseason. Now, everything is centered on Giannis, but the rest of the team still has to step up when they're needed.
As the running mate for Antetokounmpo, Adebayo must be the player who supports the Heat's superstar. Unfortunately, his offensive struggles have been a massive issue because it feels like the offense comes to a halt when Adebayo tries to score.
MORE: Bam Adebayo has become more honest about how terrible his performances have been to start the season
For a long time, Adebayo was not known to be an elite scorer. However, he has gradually become a reliable scoring option over the years. That peaked during his 83-point game in the 2025-26 season. Now that Antetokounmpo is on the Heat, expectations are high, and the team has not met any of them.
"My shot’s not going in. I’m not gonna overthink that. Funny how the outside noise wants to make me the scapegoat. But when the energy shifts, be prepared for that," Adebayo vowed after the Heat's latest loss.
While Cooper Flagg was excellent for the Dallas Mavericks, the Heat should have won that game as the favorites. It will be a harsh lesson for the Heat, but they need to step up if they want to salvage this season after a baffling 0-4 start.
More NBA news:
- Draymond Green speaks on the Miami Heat's slow start to the 2026-27 NBA season
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- Erik Spoelstra is surprised by how the referees treat Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Erik Spoelstra was not too worried about the Heat's slow start to the season
- A former NBA All-Star has spoken about a specific problem with the Heat this season