Bam Adebayo named Eastern Conference Player of the Week

Despite a hot start to the regular season, the Miami Heat didn’t have a player named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week until Jimmy Butler last week. Now Bam Adebayo has earned the honor as well for games played Monday, December 9 through Sunday, December 15.

Like Butler did last week, Adebayo posted two triple-doubles to secure the award as he led the Heat to a 2-1 record. Continuing to expand his game as a full time starter, the center displayed his trademark grit and hustle but with an increased role on the offense not just as a scorer but also as a playmaker.

Not only did he manage to get his first two career triple-doubles ever, but he also recorded a double-double in the third game. He averaged 20.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 1.33 steals and 1.00 blocks while shooting 61 percent from the field in all three games.

The big man becomes the 16th different Heat player to be named Player of the Week and it’s the 59th time in franchise history a player has won.

From the Heat’s press release:

Adebayo led off the week with a 30-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist triple-double in a, 135-121, overtime win vs. Atlanta on December 10, becoming the youngest player (22 years, 145 days) in HEAT franchise history to post a triple-double. He set career highs for points, assists, field goals made (13) and minutes (43:31) in the game. On December 13, he posted a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double while dishing out five assists and recording a block in a three-point, 113-110, loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Then on the second night of a back-to-back set on December 14 at Dallas, he posted his second triple-double of the week, recording 18 points, a team-high 11 rebounds, a game-high 10 assists, a game-high two blocks, two steals and a game-high +15 plus/minus in a, 122-118, overtime victory.

Additionally, Adebayo has posted 16 double-doubles this season, helping Miami to a 14-2 record over that span.