NBA ALL-STAR MEDIA DAY

February 18, 2023

Bam Adebayo

Media Day Press Conference

Q. Any concerns about being the last pick or awkward at all for the guy who is?

BAM ADEBAYO: No, I think they did away with the last pick.

Q. Even if you are the last reserve, you know --

BAM ADEBAYO: Yeah. I don't think it's awkward. I just think you got picked last. No hard feelings.

Q. Other than yourself, who would you like to see -- if you are first, then who would you like to see?

BAM ADEBAYO: See a ring. Win a ring. Let me see who I can look around and -- no. Can't say DeMar. He is in the East. Can't say Donovan. He is in the East. I know. I know. I know.

Who is in the West? I would love to see Devin Booker. Boom, there you go.

Q. (On his respect for Nikola Jokic.)

BAM ADEBAYO: I respect so much of his game because he is so humble. He is like a humble giant. You know, goes out there and does his job, does his job well. I feel like the conversations I've had, he has remained the same person since I've met him.

Q. Do you feel like he is deserving to be in that class of winning three consecutive MVPs?

BAM ADEBAYO: It's hard to deny what he has done. For people who really watch basketball, it's hard to deny what he has done, what he is doing. I think he can -- I think he can go for it.

Q. You have no problem with it? He is that caliber of talent?

BAM ADEBAYO: Yeah, for sure. The man is a center and almost leads the league in assists while averaging, what, 25-11. Yeah, that's hands-down, because if you look at the eye test, you'll be, like, no, man, he is not doing that. But he is a really gifted player, and he is smart. I think he has a chance to do it.

Q. (On the potential addition of Kevin Love to Miami.)

BAM ADEBAYO: I think he will be -- I think he will be like another UD (Udonis Haslem), just from different experiences. He has won rings. He has been in that locker room where they've been down, what, 3-1 (in the NBA Finals). He has been through adversity in his moments of life and in moments of truth.

So I think it will be great for us just being that he has been a leader. He is a vet, so he can coach the younger guys. You know, help us push this thing forward.

Q. (On the Eastern Conference race.)

BAM ADEBAYO: I feel like the East is a toss-up. It's one of those things where I feel like in the East, whoever is hot at the time, I feel like that's who is going to rise.