Bam Adebayo goes through ‘emotional rollercoaster,’ doesn’t miss a moment for Heat or A’ja Wilson
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo didn’t want to miss his girlfriend A’ja Wilson’s moment.
So Adebayo practiced with the Heat on Friday afternoon in Miami and then took a flight to Phoenix to watch Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces win their third WNBA championship in four years on Friday night. The Aces completed the four-game sweep, defeating the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals to claim the title.
Adebayo then immediately flew back to Miami to practice with the Heat on Saturday afternoon before the team left to Orlando for Sunday’s preseason matchup against the Magic (6 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Sun).
“Emotional rollercoaster,” Adebayo said after Saturday’s practice when asked about the whirlwind of the previous 24 hours. “Obviously, getting here, buying into what we do and focusing on that. But also having to go to see my significant other.”
Wilson, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest players ever in WNBA history, was named the WNBA Finals MVP. She averaged 28.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and two blocks per game in the championship series.
Moments after Wilson won her third WNBA title, she embraced Adebayo on the court Friday night. Cameras caught Wilson telling him, “Thank you for believing in me, baby.”
“You got it done,” Adebayo replied.
“What a special moment that was,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Saturday. “I loved the embrace. I got a little bit choked up on that visual. It’s remarkable, that kind of sustained success. Salute to the Aces organization, all the way from the top, to coach [Becky] Hammon, to all the players. I marvel at that three times in four years. It is so hard in this business to continue success. With all the competition and all the distractions, salute to them.”
Friday marked the second game that Adebayo attended in the series, as he also was at last Sunday’s Game 2 in Las Vegas. Adebayo left from the Heat’s preseason opener in Puerto Rico against the Magic the night before and then made it back to Miami in time for Monday’s morning shootaround ahead of its exhibition game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Kaseya Center.
“He’s just got such an incredible spirit and that’s to his core,” Spoelstra said of Adebayo. “That’s who he is. And that’s to everybody. That’s to A’ja, to his family, to his mom, to everybody. He just has a very genuine heart.”
Adebayo and Wilson have been publicly linked since they each represented Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with Wilson attending plenty of Heat games to support Adebayo and Adebayo attending a lot of Aces games to support Wilson since then.
Along with already winning three WNBA championships, the 29-year-old Wilson became the league’s first four-time MVP and also won her third Defensive Player of the Year award this season. As a surprise, the WNBA had Adebayo present Wilson with the league’s MVP trophy at the end of an Aces practice last month.
The 28-year-old Adebayo, who is entering his third season as the Heat’s captain and ninth NBA season after being drafted by Miami in 2017, is producing at a pace that would make him one of the greatest Heat players ever if he spends all or most of his career with the organization.
At Adebayo’s current pace, he and Dwyane Wade could end up as No. 1 and No. 2 as the Heat’s all-time career leaders in categories like two-point field goals made, free throws made, assists, steals and points, among others. Adebayo is also on his way to overtaking Udonis Haslem as the Heat’s all-time leading rebounder within the next two seasons.
But while Wilson won her third WNBA title this season, Adebayo is still looking for his first NBA championship.
“You’re just blessed to be a part of it,” Adebayo said of being there for Wilson for her championship celebration. “You know, that’s the thing about shared success. You’re just blessed to be a part of it. You’re blessed to see somebody have that much success. Somebody who you start comparing to Bill Russell and you talk about how much greatness that they have.”
JOVIC AILING
Forward Nikola Jovic is the latest Heat player to be sidelined with an injury, as he was held out of practice on Saturday because of lower back pain.
Jovic didn’t travel with the team to Orlando for Sunday’s preseason contest against the Magic and is also expected to miss Monday’s exhibition against the Hawks in Atlanta after playing in the Heat’s first three preseason games.
“My back was kind of getting just tighter and tighter during training camp and the first few games,” said Jovic, who missed a large chunk of his rookie NBA season with a back issue. “With the history I have, I don’t want it to happen again. So I think it was a smart decision from the guys in the training room to maybe take a recovery for the next two or three days and then just get back on the court.”
Jovic hopes a few days of rest will help him feel better and allow him to return for Wednesday’s Red, White & Pink Game intrasquad scrimmage at Kaseya Center.
“I’ll be good really soon,” Jovic said. “There’s nothing to worry about.”
Heat guards Tyler Herro (left ankle surgery) and Terry Rozier (strained left hamstring) also were held out of practice on Saturday and will miss their fourth straight preseason game on Sunday.
But there’s a chance that guard Davion Mitchell (calf soreness) and forward Simone Fontecchio (left lower leg tightness) could return from their respective injuries to play in Sunday’s exhibition.
This story was originally published October 11, 2025 at 2:28 PM.
