With the Miami Heat preparing for the regular season opener on Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, all eyes will be on the injuries the team is dealing with, especially when it comes to captain Bam Adebayo. As the Heat's new era starts with Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo at the forefront, the star would give a crucial update on his status for the start of the season against the Timberwolves.
Adebayo has been dealing with a groin injury and has missed Miami's last two preseason games, which could have been time to build more chemistry and rapport with Antetokounmpo and the rest of the team. Speaking to the media after Sunday's practice, where he participated, there's no denying that he wants to be out there, but he stresses that he needs to play it “smart.”
However, the 29-year-old would say that he “should be ready to go” for the regular-season opener on Wednesday when the Heat hosts Minnesota.
“Just play it smart,” Adebayo said, according to The Miami Herald. “Obviously, I want to be out there. But it’s one of those things where they tried to save me from myself. Other than that, I should be ready to go Wednesday.”
Other issues with the Heat aside from Bam Adebayo injury
Aside from Adebayo, another key player that has been dealing with an illness for the last few weeks is Pelle Larsson, who is on track to see a ton of minutes this season off the bench. Like Adebayo, Larsson is ramping up to play Wednesday.
Article Continues Below“That’s the plan right now,” Larsson said of playing Wednesday. “That’s how we’ve been setting it up, kind of planning it out not to go too fast is just don’t rush for the last preseason game. Just focus on the regular season.”
One player whose status appears not as clear is point guard Dru Smith, who sustained a calf injury in training camp, saying that Sunday was his “first day jumping into some things.”
At any rate, it remains to be seen what the official status looks like for Adebayo, Larsson, and Smith ahead of Wednesday.