Bam Adebayo Becomes Miami Heat’s All-Time Leading Rebounder

“Man, I can’t really put it into words,” Bam Adebayo said in a televised on-court postgame interview after passing Udonis Haslem to become the Miami Heat’s all-time leading rebounder during a 129-117 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Adebayo grabbed nine rebounds in the matchup, pushing his career total to 5,794 and surpassing Haslem’s franchise benchmark of 5,791 set in November 2012.

The victory broke a four-game losing streak to open the season for Miami, bringing their record to 1-4 while dropping Atlanta to 2-3. The Heat avoided falling to an 0-4 start for the first time since the 2007-08 season. Adebayo finished the night with 24 points, shooting 8-of-16 from the field and 8-of-9 at the free-throw line, alongside three assists and three steals.

How the Heat Secured Their First Win in Atlanta

Miami controlled the pace from the opening tip, establishing a nine-point lead after the first quarter and expanding it to 69-56 by halftime. The advantage stretched to 18 points in the third quarter before Atlanta mounted a late surge, cutting the deficit to four points with 6:21 remaining on the game clock. The Heat answered with a decisive 17-7 run to restore a 14-point cushion with 1:13 to play.

The offensive turnaround stemmed from a heavy reliance on the pick-and-roll. Miami ran 57 pick-and-rolls against the Hawks after orchestrating just 94 total across their first four games of the season, generating a season-best offensive rating of 118.3 points per 100 possessions. Seven different players scored in double figures, fueled by an aggressive interior attack that outscored Atlanta 70-52 in the paint on 26-of-43 shooting at the rim.

Defensively, the Heat forced 15 turnovers and converted them into 13 points, registering a season-low defensive rating of 105.6 points allowed per 100 possessions. “We were able to respond,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of handling Atlanta’s late push. “That’s this league.”

Milestone Reaches Franchise History in the Fourth Quarter

The record-breaking rebound arrived with 2-and-a-half minutes left in the fourth quarter when Adebayo secured his seventh board of the evening, surpassing Haslem’s 20-season franchise mark. Haslem, who retired after spending his entire 20-year career in Miami and held the rebounding record since November 2012, now sits just behind Adebayo’s 5,794 career rebounds.

“The person I’m passing has been so close to me throughout my 10 years in this career, from the time I walked in until now,” Adebayo said, referencing Haslem. The veteran big man served as Miami’s longtime team captain before retiring, a leadership role that Adebayo subsequently assumed.

Spoelstra praised the forward’s physical durability following the win. “So well-deserved,” Spoelstra said. “He’s done it with an iron will, a work ethic that’s unmatched. That’s a lot of rebounds in traffic, getting hit, banged in there. To be able to do it and break the record of his brother, UD, that’s a really special moment.”

Where Adebayo Ranks Across Miami’s Record Books

Selected 14th overall out of Kentucky in the 2017 NBA Draft, Adebayo has steadily climbed the franchise leaderboards over his 10 seasons with the organization. He currently stands second in total scoring for the Heat behind Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade, third in assists, third in steals, and fifth in blocked shots. Only nine players across the entire NBA have grabbed more total rebounds than Adebayo since the 2017-18 season.

“I came into this league just wanting to make an impact, leave a mark,” Adebayo said. “And to pass some of the people who have been with me on this journey, can’t do anything but thank God but also appreciate the people that have been around me.”

With the milestone secured and the team’s first victory in the books, the Heat return home to face the Indiana Pacers on Friday.

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