Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo is set for his second Olympics appearance, this time with a new role but the same goal: winning gold. “Win the gold — short, sweet, and to the point,” said Adebayo regarding his ambitions for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Adebayo, 27, will start his gold medal quest when Team USA faces Serbia on Sunday at 11:15 a.m. on NBC in Lille, France. This is the first of three group phase games before eight out of 12 teams advance to the knockout rounds.
The 12-man Team USA roster includes stars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Tyrese Haliburton, and Derrick White. Serbia’s head coach Svetislav Pesic has stated that this Team USA is stronger than the 1992 Dream Team.
Despite moving to a bench role after starting in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, Adebayo is focused on contributing as a defensive anchor and leader. “I’m not there to go get 30 points,” he said, emphasizing his supportive role.
During the pre-Olympic exhibitions, Adebayo averaged 8.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. His impressive NBA season with the Heat saw him average 19.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and make the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
Adebayo’s NBA coach, Erik Spoelstra, is an assistant coach for Team USA, marking his first Olympic experience. Another Heat player, Nikola Jovic, will play for Serbia. Adebayo, who signed a three-year maximum contract extension with the Heat, aims to add a second gold medal to his accolades and possibly become the first Heat player to win multiple gold medals.
Reflecting on his career, Adebayo acknowledges the rapid progress from his draft to potentially becoming a two-time Olympic gold medalist, highlighting his gratitude for the opportunities.
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