It’s a complicated time to follow the NBA, when even the league’s most spectacular moments can come with a built-in argument attached.
star ‘s historic against the on Tuesday presented fans with a choice that forces a side: Celebrate it, or audit it.
There was no question what was happening in Miami. The Heat franchise, which is part-old guard and part-paramilitary operation, was firmly on the side of celebration.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who has developed a reputation of coming off as robotic because of his relentless focus and analytical approach, smiled and laughed as he watched Adebayo chase 70 points, then break ‘s of 81, set 20 years ago this January.
“I didn’t dare even think about taking him out,” said Spoelstra, whose team was going into the fourth quarter and won . “Once he got to 40, I didn’t go anywhere near him … who knew I would be superstitious?”
After Adebayo scored 31 in the first quarter and 43 in the first half, Spoelstra instructed his players to see if they could get their team captain as many points as possible. They did everything possible to feature him and help him.
Over the next few days, Adebayo’s story will be told to a wider audience across the planet. He’s a three-time All-Star, a two-time gold medalist and a max-salary player. The 28-year-old is not a breakthrough star, but that could change.
People will hear about Adebayo’s story of in rural North Carolina and overcoming adversity to reach the NBA. That he has been overlooked because he isn’t a score-first player and his defensive prowess doesn’t come with impressive stats, gives the entire experience a karmic feel.
People will hear Adebayo’s sound bytes about growing up worshiping Bryant and lamenting that they never got to meet.
“That was my idol growing up. I watched how he approached the game … with that laser focus,” Adebayo after the game. “I wonder what he would say to me at this point. He’d probably tell me to do it again.”
Adebayo’s peers across the league made their feelings known. From to to , a legion of them on social media. And those who were in front of microphones also made it clear on which side of the line they came down.
“I couldn’t believe it when I was hearing it in real time,” said star , who was aware of Adebayo’s night even as he was against the .
“I looked at the stat sheet and it was pretty crazy. [He had] 40 shots, 40 free throws, 20 3s — that takes a lot of stamina, man. … Huge accomplishment. It will be something we talk about forever.”
, who scored 64 points in a game two seasons ago in which he took 32 free throws, clearly had no issue with Adebayo getting 83, 16 of which came in the fourth quarter when the Heat were forcing him the ball and the Wizards were throwing defenders at him.
“It doesn’t matter how you got there. All that matters is you got it,” said Antetokounmpo, who had to the . “Like in 10, 20, 30 years from now, no one is going to remember how many free throws he shot. I don’t think I remember how many shots Kobe shot or how many free throws he made or how many 3s. All you remember is 81.”
Bryant took 46 shots in his legendary game — three more than Adebayo — and made 18-of-20 free throws. Adebayo took 46 free throws to Bryant’s 20. attempted 63 shots in for the Philadelphia Warriors in 1962, hoisting 21 of them in the fourth quarter when he was chasing that number, video of which does not exist.
When Adebayo’s accomplishment was announced at Crypto.com arena in Los Angeles, the fans in Bryant’s old home loudly booed. Many had already seen or heard that the Heat had fouled late in the fourth quarter to help extend the game and forced Adebayo the ball in the second half, which left them feeling a certain way that their hero had been surpassed in .
The Wizards, who are in the middle of a , have the NBA’s worst defense. They have the league’s third-worst record and have lost nine games in a row, part of a race to the bottom of in which there are arguably eight teams taking part. The Wizards are part of a spreading stain of this behavior that has led commissioner Adam Silver to .
Even as Adebayo put up each point, a wing of fans instantly discredited it because of the opponent. And some within the league agreed.
“I saw he only made [seven] 3s but 40 free throws or something like that — tells the story right there,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “And the Washington Wizards.”
Spoelstra drew some ire for leaving Adebayo in the game as the lead grew to over 20 points and then for challenging a charging call on Adebayo with less than four minutes left in an attempt to squeeze more free throws.
A sizable portion of the discourse in the coming days will likely follow this divergent path. It has something for everyone with the that has already taken root, the immense and often fiercely defensive Bryant fan base, the controversial tactics deployed in the closing minutes and the sportsmanship of the Heat.
Which makes it, in many ways, a quintessential modern moment. Complaining about the NBA and celebrating it routinely scrimmage. And this one makes it easy to take and defend a side.
Maybe lost in the analysis is that the man who actually did it wasn’t focused on debate or putting himself above Bryant. Adebayo just wanted to bask in the feeling of being alongside his idol, a sentiment that perhaps could bring people together if they allowed it.
“Just a surreal moment,” Abebayo said. “Just being in the company of Kobe.”
