The term “culture” became a significant buzzword for the Miami Heat during their surprising and historic journey to the NBA Finals as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference last season. Although the Heat faced an early exit in the first round of playoffs this year, their culture remains a prominent subject of discussion.
As the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks kick off this season’s NBA Finals on Thursday, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo joined the latest episode of the “Point Game with John Wall and C.J. Toledano” podcast to talk about what distinguishes the Heat’s culture.
On the podcast released Wednesday, Adebayo explained, “To me, it’s simply a standard. People create myths and rumors about it, but the core idea is that it’s a standard. Each year, Coach Erik Spoelstra comes in with the goal of winning the trophy, aiming for those sixteen wins. It’s a standard because every day, our coach challenges us.”
“He comes in every day and tells us, ‘You need to be ready for what’s coming this season.’ While it doesn’t guarantee perfect execution, it establishes a standard of always being prepared. This daily focus becomes second nature by the time the playoffs arrive.”
Since being drafted 14th overall by the Heat in 2024 ,Adebayo has excelled in that environment. He is a three-time All-Star and was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team for the first time this season, after being on the All-Defensive Second Team for the previous four seasons.
Adebayo, who will turn 27 on July 18, has spent all seven of his NBA seasons with the Heat. He is signed with the team through the 2025-26 season and has the opportunity to sign a three-year extension this offseason. This extension could be worth $165 million, starting with a $51.2 million salary for the 2026-27 season.
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