NBA legend Charles Barkley claimed that Bam Adebayo would have been ‘killed’ for his record performance against the Washington Wizards if he had attempted it ‘back in the day.’
The Miami Heat star shattered franchise records when he scored 83 points in a 150-129 victory over the Wizards on Tuesday night.
The 28-year-old delivered the second-highest scoring performance in NBA history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain’s legendary 100-point game from 1962.
Adebayo’s scoring outburst at the Kaseya Center also eclipsed the late Kobe Bryant’s 81-point mark, which had stood as the second-best individual effort for two decades.
It also shattered the previous Miami Heat franchise record of 61 points, which was set by LeBron James against the Charlotte Bobcats in 2014.
While the 83-point masterclass stunned NBA fans, Barkley claimed that Adebayo would not have been able to come close to the feat if the three-time All-Star had played in Barkley’s era.
NBA legend Charles Barkley issued a brutal verdict on Bam Adebayo’s historic 83-point haul
Miami Heat star Adebayo shattered franchise records when he scored 83 points
The analyst took aim at the Wizards for allowing Adebayo to score his haul, claiming they did not do enough to stop him.
‘He is so lucky he’s playing in 2026,’ the 63-year-old said on ESPN on Saturday night. ‘We would have knocked him on his a**. We would’ve killed him back in the day.
‘And I’m not doing any hyperbole or anything. In my day, if you’re up 20 and shooting a three, we’re going to put your a** in the stands. That was like an unwritten rule.’
Barkley even claimed that one team, although he refused to name which one, would give bonuses to its players whenever they ‘knocked the hell out of somebody who’s shooting a three.’
Adebayo’s historic night began with an electric 31-point first quarter, setting a new Heat record for points in any single period while tying the team’s first-half record in just 12 minutes.
Adebayo reached 43 points by halftime – already surpassing his previous career high – and admitted he had sensed a historic performance was beckoning after the first-half display.
‘Man, I wish I could relive it twice,’ Adebayo said, adding that his individual display would not have been possible without the support of family, fans and his teammates.
‘Somebody had to pass me the ball. I appreciate Coach for drawing up plays for me and I got it going tonight. This is number one, for sure.’
Adebayo’s scoring at the Kaseya Center eclipsed the late Kobe Bryant’s 81-point mark
The historic night began with an electric 31-point first quarter, setting a new Heat record
The center finished the night shooting 20-for-43 from the field and 7-for-22 from three-point range, but it was his efficiency at the charity stripe that stole the show.
Adebayo set two new all-time NBA records by making 36 free throws on 43 attempts, breaking Dwight Howard’s record for attempts (39) and Wilt Chamberlain’s record for makes (28).
‘It’s Wilt, me and then Kobe – that sounds crazy,’ Adebayo said of surpassing his idol. ‘To me it’s wondering what he would say. My mind is like “What would he say to me?”‘
‘He’d probably say “Do it again”. Just a surreal moment being in the company of somebody you idolized growing up.’
