Adebayo was born on July 18, 1997 in Newark, New Jersey to a Nigerian father and an African-American mother. As a child, he was given the nickname "Bam Bam" by his mother when, while watching The Flintstones at age one, he flipped over a coffee table in a manner similar to the show's character Bamm-Bamm Rubble. Adebayo is of African American and Yoruba descent. Adebayo first attended Northside High School in Pinetown, North Carolina. As a junior, he averaged 32.2 points and 21 rebounds a game. During the summer, Adebayo joined his Amateur Athletic Union team, Team Loaded NC, alongside fellow five-star 2016 recruit Dennis Smith Jr. He averaged 15.0 points and 10 rebounds per game on Adidas Uprising Circuit. Later that summer Adebayo competed at the NBPA Top 100 Camp and was named MVP at the 2015 Under Armour Elite 24 game. After his junior season he transferred to High Point Christian Academy in High Point, North Carolina. In his season debut, Adebayo scored 22 points and 17 rebounds in an 81–39 win over New Garden Friends School. On December 29, he posted 26 points and 14 rebounds in a 91–63 victory over De'Aaron Fox and Cypress Lakes High School. As a senior, Adebayo averaged 18.9 points per game, 13.0 rebounds per game, 1.4 blocks per game and 1.5 assist per game, and led the Cougars to a NCISAA state championship appearance. Adebayo was named 2016 North Carolina Mr. Basketball. In January 2016, Adebayo played in the 2016 McDonald's All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic.
Recruiting
Adebayo was rated as a five-star recruit and considered one of the best high school prospects of the 2016 class. Adebayo was ranked as the No. 5 overall recruit and No. 2 power forward in the 2016 high school class. On November 17, 2015, Adebayo committed to the University of Kentucky. He joined fellow freshmen Malik Monk, De'Aaron Fox, and Wenyen Gabriel.
College career
On December 7, 2016, Adebayo recorded 16 points and 7 rebounds in an 87–67 win against the Valparaiso Crusaders. On February 21, 2017, Adebayo scored 22 points and 15 rebounds to defeat the Missouri Tigers in a 72–62 Victory. As the number one seed entering the SEC Tournament, Kentucky would defeat the Georgia Bulldogs in the quarterfinals and beat Alabama in the semi-finals. On March 12, 2017, Adebayo grabbed 9 rebounds to help the Wildcats defeat Arkansas 82–65 and win the SEC Championship. On March 17, 2017, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Adebayo had 18 rebounds in a 79–70 victory against Northern Kentucky University. In the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Adebayo secured 10 rebounds to help Kentucky defeat Wichita State University. On March 24, 2017, Kentucky defeated the UCLA Bruins in the Sweet sixteen, Adebayo had 12 rebounds in the game. On March 26, 2017, Adebayo scored 13 points and 7 rebounds in a 75–73 loss in the Elite eight against the North Carolina Tar Heels. After losing in the Elite Eight in a heartbreaking fashion, he declared his entry into the 2017 NBA draft on April 5, 2017, with him signing an agent twenty days later. In 38 games for Kentucky in the 2016–17 season, Adebayo averaged 13.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game.
Professional career
Miami Heat (2017–present)
Rookie season (2017–18)
On June 22, 2017, Adebayo was selected with the 14th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft by the Miami Heat. On July 1, Adebayo signed his rookie scale contract with the Heat, and joined the team for the 2017 NBA Summer League. In his rookie season, Adebayo appeared in 69 games for the Heat and averaged 6.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
2018–19 season
On December 7, 2018, Adebayo recorded 22 points and 10 rebounds in a 115–98 win over the Phoenix Suns. On December 28, Adebayo scored 18 points in a 118–94 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Adebayo played all 82 games, averaging 8.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
2019–20 season
On December 10, 2019, Adebayo recorded his first career triple-double with a career-high 30 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in a 135–121 overtime win against the Atlanta Hawks. On December 14, Adebayo had his second career triple-double in a 122–118 overtime win over the Dallas Mavericks, scoring 18 points with 11 rebounds and 10 assists. On December 16, Adebayo was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the games played from December 9 to December 15, when averaged 20.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.7 assists per game. On January 27, Adebayo recorded 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 113–92 win over the Orlando Magic. On January 30, Adebayo was named to his first NBA All-Star Game. On February 15, Adebayo won the NBA All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge competition.
