Jeff Teague has had some hot takes in the last year or so on his Club 520 Podcast. Sometimes he is right, sometimes he is wrong. What people cannot take away is that he is not afraid to make bold takes. And fans love commenting on them. In the latest episode of his podcast, the guys talked about Bam Adebayo and how much he can improve. Teague said Adebayo could be one of the best players in the league.
Former All-Star Believes Adebayo Can Make a Giannis-Like Leap
The whole conversation started when the guys compared Bam and Evan Mobley. Speaking about the two, Teague believed that Mobley has reached his ceiling, while Bam can improve a lot more. He said:
“Bam can do more. I think that’s probably the best we are going to see of Evan Mobley. He can probably become a better shooter. But Bam, like his body type, he doesn’t have a Giannis build. Like the only step he could take is like Giannis. He can become that physically imposing and just run people over and go dunk. But his aggressiveness and the way he plays just don’t mirror Giannis. He doesn’t move as fluidly as Giannis.”
Comparing anyone to Giannis Antetokounmpo is a bold take. The Greek Freak is a two-time regular-season MVP and a Finals MVP. In the past five years, he has consistently been among the top three or top five players in the league. So, let’s take a look at how similar Bam and Giannis are.
Can Bam Adebayo Improve like Giannis?
First off, it is worth noting that Bam is three years younger than Giannis. The guys talked about Adebayo becoming more physically imposing. If we look at their height and weight, Bam is actually bigger than Giannis. He is 6’9″, weighing 255 lbs. Giannis is 6’11”, weighing 242 lbs. But the way they play is extremely different. The Greek Freak has one of the best euro steps in the league. With a few dribbles, he can get from midcourt to the rim with ease. Antetokounmpo is probably one of the deadliest players in transition. Bam, on the other hand, has never played like that. The Heat, like a team, haven’t played like that.
Adebayo does have the IQ and skills to be the hub of Miami’s offense. He averages 3.6 assists for his career, but he has had two seasons with five-plus assists. Last season, he averaged 4.3. One way for Bam to improve is be more aggressive, creating more opportunities for his teammates.
As one of the most aggressive players in the league, Giannis makes defenses collapse, and he has learned to find open teammates. That is the next step in Bam’s improvement as an All-Star.
Next Season Will be Crucial For Bam
This season will be one of the most important for Bam Adebayo and his improvement. For the first time in his career, he might be considered the best player on his team. At the very least, he should be the go-to guy. He has never been that for a full season. First, he played alongside Dwyane Wade, and then alongside Jimmy Butler. Jimmy was traded midway through last season. This time, the Heat and Bam will have a full training camp to find ways to use him as the go-to guy.
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