The ‘Play-In Team’ Dig Just Hit Bam Adebayo, And His Answer About Giannis & Klay Is Gold

Bam Adebayo is absolutely not letting anyone label the Miami Heat a “play-in team” for the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season. After making the play-in tournament for four straight years, Adebayo is pushing back hard, telling The Makeshift Podcast that the energy around the team is completely different now, and anyone still doubting them is straight-up “crazy.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Arrival Changes Everything

Adebayo’s confidence isn’t just talk, it’s backed by some serious firepower joining the squad: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson. When Adebayo says, “We just got one of the best shooters ever and one of the top-three players in our league. But we’re a play-in team?” you know exactly who he’s talking about. Antetokounmpo’s presence alone elevates Miami’s ceiling like crazy. This guy’s a future Hall of Famer, one of the absolute best players in the league, with a resume that includes a championship, an NBA Finals MVP, two league MVPs, a Defensive Player of the Year, and nine All-NBA selections. He and Adebayo are going to be one of the best one-two punches in the league, especially for frontcourt players. Opposing defenses won’t know what hit them, forced to pick their poison between the two of them.

Klay Thompson’s Shot: A Game-Changer (Again?)

And then there’s Klay Thompson. Adebayo called him “one of the best shooters ever” for a reason. While Thompson will be turning 37 this season and shot a career-worst 38.3 percent from deep last season with the Dallas Mavericks, the open looks created by Antetokounmpo and Adebayo should be a total game-changer for him. Imagine the space Klay will have when defenses are trying to stop Giannis and Bam down low! That kind of gravity creates opportunities, and it could definitely help Thompson improve on his recent numbers. The goal is clear: get into the top six of the Eastern Conference and leave that play-in tournament in the rearview mirror. With these additions, Adebayo’s not just talking trash, he’s stating facts. Get ready, because this Heat team is about to be a whole new beast.

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Originally reported by Bleacher Report.