Nunn, Adebayo join Heat at Disney
Absent at the beginning of training camp, Adebayo, Nunn arrive at Coronado Springs
The respect comes from the respected.
“He makes it a joy to come to work every day,” Miami Heat captain Udonis Haslem said Tuesday evening of teammate Bam Adebayo.
That joy again will be in place later in the week on the practice court, as will renewed optimism for the Heat’s chances at the NBA’s resumption at Disney World.
Shortly after Haslem’s comments, Adebayo strode into the Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort alongside teammate Kendrick Nunn.
The arrivals came after the two were left behind when the Heat departed July 8 for Central Florida. While the Heat declined to specify the reason for their absences, by rule each had to test COVID-19-free in order to enter the NBA’s “bubble” type of campus.
For now, it is quarantine for both, which, if the two required negative tests are produced 24 hours apart, could have them on the practice court Thursday or Friday. The timing of their arrivals kept them out of Wednesday night’s exhibition opener against the Sacramento Kings but could have them back for the second of the Heat’s three scrimmages, Saturday against the Utah Jazz.
More significantly, it allows for a full week of Disney acclimation before the Heat’s Aug. 1 resumption of the regular season, against the Denver Nuggets, and then ample team time before the Aug. 17 start of the playoffs.
“He helps me just as much as I help him,” Haslem said of Adebayo.
For the Heat, it means 40% of the starting lineup is back in place. Adebayo has started all 65 games this season, Nunn 62.
Both have had major impacts on the 41-24 record the Heat carry into the restart.
Adebayo, who made his AllStar debut in February, already
has recorded 333 assists this season, becoming the only player in team history 6-foot-9 or taller with at least 300 in a season. With three triple-doubles, he is one shy of LeBron James’ franchise season record.
Nunn, who appeared in the Rising Stars game during that same All-Star weekend, has already recorded 18 20-point games this season, two off the franchise’s single-season rookie record set by Caron Butler in 2002-03, and one off Dwyane Wade’s rookie total in 2003-04.
In addition, Nunn’s 131 3-pointers already are a franchise rookie record, eclipsing Mario Chalmers’ 114 in 2008-09.
For each, the statistics should continue to pile up during the games played in the absence of fans at the Wide World of Sports complex.
The caveat is that the NBA has decided balloting for the league’s annual awards will be based on the juncture the NBA suspended play March 11.
For Nunn, it effectively ends the competition with Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant and New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson in the race for Rookie of the Year.
For Adebayo, it means no further opportunity to build his case for Most Improved Player against Pelicans guard Brandon Ingram.
Heat center Meyers Leonard effectively worked as Adebayo’s campaign manager in Adebayo’s absence.
“There’s one answer: It’s Bam. That’s what it is,” Leonard said during the Heat’s ongoing workouts at Disney. “You talk about a young player who’s developing into a superstar right in front of our eyes. Obviously, I was in Portland [last season] and I was wondering, ‘OK, well what is he capable of ?’
“To be completely truthful, and I’ve said this to Bam before, I thought he was an incredibly athletic player, gifted on the defensive end and could finish around the rim. We all now know that that is the truth, but there’s just so much more.
“It just blows my mind, No. 1, how talented he is, but also how far he has come just in this season alone. He handles the ball, his court vision is incredible, his rebounding. Everything that Bam does, he has that next-level mentality on both ends of the floor that allows not only himself to excel but helps our team.”
And now he’s back, as is Nunn, with coach Erik Spoelstra about to have all of his tools back at his disposal.
“I don’t know if there has ever been more of a need to have depth and have players on your roster that you feel comfortable playing in a game than right now,” Spoelstra said.