Bam Adebayo has a different takeaway from his 83-point eruption against Washington: He believes he left enough points behind to challenge Wilt Chamberlain.

Speaking on the Makeshift Podcast, the Miami Heat center defended his pursuit of Kobe Bryant’s 81-point benchmark and suggested better shooting could have carried him beyond Chamberlain.

“I had 83 on a bad shooting night,” Adebayo said. “I would’ve passed Wilt.”

Bam says he could’ve scored 100 points because he got 83 points on a bad shooting night:

“I had 83 on a bad shooting night…I would’ve passed Wilt…I think it can be done…it just has to be a good day for you…most of our starters were out…people don’t realize we had just lost… https://t.co/PKqfaB1ZkA pic.twitter.com/fWmO7SkGkf

— The HEAT Realm (@WadexFlash) October 1, 2026

That claim adds another layer to a performance that already prompted questions about how Miami handled the closing minutes. Adebayo, however, described a deliberate choice to chase history, even as exhaustion set in.

“I idolized Kobe Bryant,” he said, per Bleacher Report.

With 70 points and nine minutes remaining, Adebayo weighed leaving the floor against continuing his pursuit. He chose the opportunity in front of him.

Bam Adebayo pushes back on criticism of his 83 points

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Adebayo also challenged the idea that the final stretch explained his entire scoring output.

He pointed to contact throughout the contest when addressing complaints about his 43 free throws. He also recalled Kel’el Ware recognizing the possibility of an enormous total after Adebayo scored 30 in the opening quarter.

The expected defensive adjustment never arrived, according to Adebayo, who said Washington’s coach did not begin doubling him.

He placed the game within Miami’s broader struggles, too. Several starters missed the matchup, and the Heat had recently fallen to Utah.

Washington’s 17-65 finish fueled the debate about Erik Spoelstra keeping Adebayo on the court against a struggling opponent. Adebayo’s explanation focused on his own decision: He understood the milestone, anticipated criticism, and wanted to keep playing.

“I went for it. I knew exactly what I was doing,” he said.