On March 10, 2026, it was a basketball night that went down in the history books for Bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat. The star center erupted for 83 points against the Washington Wizards on their home floor at Kaseya Center, recording the second-highest scoring game in NBA history.
The performance placed Adebayo behind only Wilt Chamberlain, who famously scored 100 points on March 2, 1962 for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks. Adebayo’s performance also surpassed Kobe Bryant’s iconic 81-point performance on January 22, 2006 against the Toronto Raptors.
Following the historic night, several current and former NBA stars took to social media to praise Adebayo’s remarkable performance. Among those reacting were LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Karl-Anthony Towns, Donovan Mitchell, Victor Oladipo, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, and Dirk Nowitzki, all of whom expressed their amazement at the Heat star’s scoring explosion.
Teammates and Bam Adebayo’s mother celebrate the Miami Heat center’s 83-point performance; Photo Credit: Getty Images and AP
Even Magic Johnson shared his reaction on Instagram, congratulating Adebayo with the following message:
“I want to congratulate Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo on scoring 83 points last night against the Washington Wizards – the second-highest scoring game in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain (100 points) and passing Lakers legend and hero, the beloved Kobe Bryant, who scored 81 points.”
While many celebrated the historic moment, not everyone was pleased with the performance. One of the most vocal critics was actor O’Shea Jackson Jr., the son of rapper Ice Cube. Jackson, a well-known die-hard fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant, went on a fiery rant on X shortly after the former Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball standout surpassed Bryant’s legendary 81-point mark.
Jackson spent much of the night posting during the game, beginning with a message claiming there was “Kobe hate propaganda.” He later accused the Miami Heat and Adebayo of stat-padding, arguing that the team continued to feed Adebayo the ball even while comfortably leading the Wizards.
In a series of posts, Jackson also questioned the number of free throws awarded and the officiating throughout the game, suggesting the league may have been pushing Adebayo toward a historic milestone. At one point, he joked that the effort felt like a “collective push by the league” to chase Chamberlain’s legendary 100-point record, even calling out NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
Despite the explosive scoring performance, Adebayo ultimately fell short of Chamberlain’s all-time record.
Jackson continued his criticism by claiming the NBA “tried hard” to make history happen and predicted that Victor Wembanyama might eventually reach the 100-point milestone. He also called on sports commentator Stephen A. Smith to weigh in on the situation, while jokingly blaming LeBron James before ending his rant by reaffirming his loyalty to Bryant.
L-R: Highlight of Kobe Bryant’s game night performance, scoring 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2006; and Wilt Chamberlin hold of the 100 point sign after scoring the current all-time NBA scoring record in a single game; Photo Credit: via Kickz93/Instagram and Getty Images
Jackson insisted that Bryant remains “the highest of any guard or perimeter player ever,” while arguing that the league was attempting to manufacture a historic moment that could overshadow Bryant’s legacy.
Regardless of the criticism, Adebayo’s 83-point performance will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest scoring displays the NBA has ever seen. While debates about officiating, stat-padding, and legacy may continue among fans, the historic night cemented Adebayo’s place in the league’s record books and added another unforgettable chapter to the sport’s long history of legendary performances.
