Stephen A. Smith Asks Bam Adebayo to Stop Leaning Into ‘Scapegoat’ Narratives Amid Heat’s Struggles

Stephen A. Smith has emphatically asked Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo to relax after he called out the media for making him a 'scapegoat'.

Stephen A. Smith Asks Bam Adebayo to Stop Leaning Into ‘Scapegoat’ Narratives Amid Heat’s Struggles

Stephen A. Smith and Bam Adebayo (Image credits - Yahoo Sports and Heat Nation)

The pressure is starting to mount on Bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat. With all the hype and expectations heading into the new season, the Heat are 0-4 after their first four games, their worst start since the 2007-08 campaign.

Adebayo is the longest-serving player on the current Heat roster. Drafted by the franchise as the 14th overall pick in 2017, Adebayo has established himself as one of the best defensive big men in the league over the last decade.

After playing a vital role in the Heat’s run to the NBA Finals in 2023, he has struggled to keep the Heat relevant since Jimmy Butler left at the trade deadline last year. After missing the playoffs last season, the Heat front office has revamped their roster in order to contend for the championship this season.

The acquisition of Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks was one of the biggest trades this summer. The Heat went on to make more changes to their roster as they built around their two big men.

Unfortunately, things have not gone according to plan as they are winless in their first four games of the 2026-27 campaign. However, Adebayo has been at the center of criticism for his poor performances so far.

With the fingers being pointed at him, Adebayo called out the media for making him a ‘scapegoat’. Following his comments, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith responded to the Heat center and suggested that the ‘media’ aren’t the ones calling him out.

Bam Adebayo, will you stop bro? There is a difference between the media and social media. I’m in the media, have you heard me say a word about Bam Adebayo? We ain’t tripping over four games into the season. Do you really think we don’t know that that’s not gonna last? Don’t fall for that. That’s social media trolls talking that nonsense. Stop the whining. We know you’re great.

Stephen A. Smith on First Take

Stephen A. Smith took exception to the mainstream media being called out. He said the people Adebayo should ignore are online, not in the media. There are still 78 games to go in the regular season, and once the Heat start winning, the outside noise will die eventually.

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Kendrick Perkins called out Bam Adebayo after he felt scapegoated by the media

It is definitely not the start Adebayo and the Heat would have been hoping for. They sit 14th in the Eastern Conference standings. They are one of only two Eastern Conference teams that haven’t won a game this season, alongside the Brooklyn Nets.

Bam Adebayo
Bam Adebayo (Image credits – NBARetweet/X)

Giannis Antetokounmpo is undoubtedly the Heat’s star player, but Adebayo will need to step up his game if they have any chance of contending for the championship next year. Four games into the season, he is averaging 11.8 points and 7.3 rebounds, and shooting at just 40% from the field.

Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins believes it’s time for the 29-year-old to live up to the hype he’s gotten so far.

Bam is what’s going on in South Beach. When is Bam going to take that leap from an All Star caliber player, to All NBA caliber player? He’s never been in trade rumors. When Bam and Jimmy went to the finals, it was conversations being had that said ‘hey, is It time to put Bam on the same level as Anthony Davis or Giannis? And we said yeah, Bam got the ceiling.

Kendrick Perkins on The Road Trippin Show

Adebayo has averaged around the 20-point mark just twice in his NBA career. He has always been known for his defensive prowess and has been named to the All-Defensive Team six times. But with Antetokounmpo by his side, Perkins expects him to improve his offensive game as well.

Bam Adebayo is still figuring out his game alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo

When the Heat acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson in the summer, the excitement level has been sky-high. With Bam Adebayo and Antetokounmpo in the front court, the Heat were expected to be a defensive juggernaut and a nightmare to score against.

However, their offense and defense still have a long way to go before they can be seen as contenders. ESPN insider Shams Charania believes there is still a lot of work to be done as Adebayo has struggled alongside the Greek Freak so far.

There’s a lot of adjusting going on in Miami when you bring a player like Giannis who takes up so much space. We saw Davion Mitchell say he believes Bam needs to move with more intention. It is 4 games in. I would caution everyone about that, these teams always take time when you bring a player like Giannis.

Shams Charania on The Stephen A. Smith Show

While Adebayo pushes back against the scapegoat narrative, the pressure seems to be getting to him. However, it is just a matter of time before he finds his rhythm and the shots start falling. Ultimately, winning cures all, and the Heat just need to start winning.

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