A’ja Wilson and Bam Adebayp. Photo Credit: Megan Briggs By Okla Jones ·Updated March 11, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

On Tuesday night, Bam Adebayo entered the NBA record books. The Miami Heat star delivered a performance that stunned the league, pouring in 83 points during Miami’s 150–129 victory over the Washington Wizards. The total now stands as the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain’s famous 100-point night in 1962. In the process, Adebayo moved past Kobe Bryant’s 81-point performance from 2006, a modern-era benchmark that had stood for nearly two decades.

What made the night even more remarkable was how quickly it began, because by the end of the first quarter, Adebayo had already piled up 31 points, which was more than Washington’s entire lineup in the opening period. The surge also erased a franchise mark previously held by A’ja Wilson was HYPED for Bam after he set a Heat franchise record 62 PTS in a game pic.twitter.com/Wo7I1ao93E

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 11, 2026

After the game, Adebayo reflected on the significance of passing Bryant’s long-standing mark. “I wonder what he would say, to be 83 and pass him, my mind is like, what would he say to me? ‘Cause I always wanted to have a conversation with him,” Adebayo said. “…he would probably tell me to do it again. Just a surreal moment to be in the company of somebody you idolized growing up.” He later added: “Just a surreal moment. Just being in the company of Kobe.”

As word of the performance spread, players across the league reacted online. Congratulations poured in from stars including James, Kevin Durant, Jalen Brunson and former Heat legend Dwyane Wade. Inside the arena, another supporter watched from close range. Adebayo’s girlfriend, A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, followed the performance from the stands before celebrating afterward.

A’ja Wilson joins Bam Adebayo in the post-game interview: “God is really just really special for him and God doesn’t play about Bam”(via @ohnohedidnt24) pic.twitter.com/H3naZt95QJ

— 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) March 11, 2026

“Welp won’t have the highest career high in the house anymore but at least it gives me something to go after,” Wilson wrote online. She later praised his night when speaking with reporters. “God is really just really special for him and God doesn’t play about Bam.”

Adebayo credited Wilson as a source of motivation during his own postgame remarks. The Heat center noted that their shared dedication to training and preparation has pushed him to keep improving.

“The behind-the-scenes, the workouts, and the conversations, they’re very motivating,” Adebayo said. “Obviously, you see what she does. You get inspired every day by that. Thankful to have her in my life.”

TOPICS:  A’Ja Wilson

The post Bam Adebayo Scores 83, Passing Kobe Bryant’s Mark As A’ja Wilson Praises His Historic Game appeared first on Essence.

Author: Okla Jones

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