Why Sam Amick had an issue with Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game

When Bam Adebayo erupted for 83 points earlier this week, the performance instantly entered NBA history.

The Miami Heat star delivered the second-highest scoring game ever on Tuesday night, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain’s legendary 100-point game in 1962 and surpassing the famous 81-point night from Kobe Bryant in 2006.

Adebayo finished with 83 points on 20-of-43 shooting, while going 7-for-22 from three-point range and 36-for-45 at the free throw line. The Heat center also added 15 rebounds, as Miami routed the Washington Wizards in a game that quickly became all about chasing history.

But the way Bam Adebayo reached 83 sparked debate across the basketball world—including from Sam Amick of The Athletic, who wrote a column questioning how the historic moment unfolded.

Why Bam Adebayo and the Heat should have stopped at 81 – just like the broadcast said – rather than taking Kobe’s mark, @TheAthletic

(Free link)

https://t.co/0gIduStmes

— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) March 11, 2026

Should Bam Adebayo have stopped at 81 points?

Speaking on The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross, Amick admitted his reaction came from watching the final stretch live.

“I don’t normally do hot takes,” Amick said. “But when Bam scored 83, I’m at the Kings game and suddenly you start hearing, ‘Dang, Bam’s got 60.’ So I stayed back in the press room watching the last few minutes on my phone.”

Amick’s column drew strong reactions because he acknowledged he didn’t watch the entire game before forming his opinion.

“Admitting in the column that I only watched the last few minutes and basically saying that was enough for me—I’m not going to go watch the rest—pissed people off,” Amick said. “But it was my reaction to the moment.”

For Amick, the late-game sequence stood out. With the game already decided, Miami repeatedly forced the ball to Adebayo while Washington continued fouling to extend possessions.

“They’ve got three bodies on Bam two feet away from the baseline, full-court press, and they’re still forcing it into him,” Amick said. “It just was… shameless. It wasn’t at all in the flow of the game.”

Even so, Amick acknowledged that unusual circumstances often accompany massive scoring nights.

“If you score more than 70 points, it’s kind of going to be janky no matter what,” he said. “Everyone’s aware they’re trying to get you the ball. You’re not playing traditional basketball anymore.”

Another element that fueled discussion was the surprise-factor. Entering the game, Bam Adebayo averaged roughly 20 points per game, making the 83-point outburst one of the biggest statistical jumps ever for a single performance.

“I’ll admit maybe a little bit of that played into my reaction,” Amick said. “It kind of felt like a guy who never imagined he’d be in that space around that point total, and then was just like, ‘While I’m here, I’m going for everything.’”

Check out the full interview with The Athletic’s Sam Amick by scrolling to the top of the page or by clicking here.

Listen to The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross from 6 – 10 a.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.

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When is the next Sacramento Kings game?

The Sacramento Kings will make a brief one-game road trip to Los Angeles for a matchup against the red-hot Clippers.

Los Angeles is 2-0 against the Kings this season, including a 114-111 win over Sacramento in the most recent meeting between these two Pacific Division foes on February 6th.

Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Clippers action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 6:00 PM PT on Game Night before a 7:30 pm PT tip-off from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.

Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season

• Saturday, March 14th @ Los Angeles Clippers – 7:30 PM PT
• Sunday, March 15th vs. Utah Jazz – 7:00 PM PT
• Tuesday, March 17th vs. San Antonio Spurs – 7:00 PM PT
• Thursday, March 19th vs. Philadelphia 76ers – 7:00 PM PT
• Sunday, March 22nd vs. Brooklyn Nets – 3:00 PM PT

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