Bam Adebayo's top-5 NBA list sparks fan criticism

Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo was honored with the NBA's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award on Sunday, August -, 2026, at his youth camp in Miami, capping a notable offseason for the veteran forward. The award recognizes his extensive community work and philanthropic efforts through his Bam, Books & Brotherhood Foundation, which focuses on educational equity, food security, and youth development in South Florida and North Carolina.

During the ceremony, Adebayo was asked to name his top five NBA players of all time, and his list sparked immediate discussion for its notable omissions. Adebayo named Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, and Tim Duncan. He did not include his current teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo, former Heat icon Dwyane Wade, or LeBron James, who recently chose to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency instead of returning to Miami.

The exclusions, particularly of Wade-whom Adebayo has frequently cited as a mentor-and Antetokounmpo, drew criticism from some fans on social media. One fan suggested the list might reflect lingering feelings from the Heat's loss to James' Lakers in the 2020 NBA Finals, as well as his recent...