Heat experience a ‘buzzkill’ as NBA removes Adebayo’s 20th rebound from Monday’s historical triple-double

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The first 20-rebound triple-double in Miami Heat history? Never happened, after the NBA’s after-the-fact audit of Monday night’s box score removed Bam Adebayo’s 20th rebound as an entry error.

While it is typical for the league to revise box scores upon video review, the change with Adebayo turned a historical night into something a bit less historical, the final ledger for the Heat center in the victory over the Los Angeles Lakers now reading 22 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists.

“I didn’t hear about it until we got on the airplane (Tuesday), and my first reaction was, ‘That’s a buzzkill,’ ” coach Erik Spoelstra said ahead of Wednesday night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. “Come on. He was doing a big-muscle workout on the glass. Let it go.

“Was it a tip, or whatever? That’s 20 rebounds in my book.”

The play in question involved an Adebayo blocked shot, with the ball then ultimately secured by teammate Duncan Robinson, who instead was credited with the rebound.

“It’s whatever,” Adebayo said. “I’ve seen a lot of dudes get their stats padded and nobody bats an eye. But it’s all good. I’ll do it again.”

So, no, not the fifth player in NBA history with at least 20 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, two steals, two blocks in the same game, which initially had him joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (twice in 1976), Chris Webber (1999), DeMarcus Cousins (2015) and Nikola Jokić (2023).

And, no, not the first triple-double with 20 rebounds in franchise history.

But he does remain the third Heat player to record a triple-double with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds, joining Lamar Odom (2004) and Jimmy Butler (2019).

So, for now, the most recent 20-20 game for the Heat remains when Hassan Whiteside went for 23 points and 20 rebounds against the Utah Jazz on Dec. 2, 2018.

“I’m not mad at that,” Adebayo said of the audit. “It’s part of basketball. It is what it is. I just got to make sure I get my 20th rebound next time.”

Swider, Hampton down

Guard R.J. Hampton on Wednesday joined forward Cole Swider with the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Skyforce, as part of their two-way contracts.

“They’re looking forward to it,” Spoelstra said. “They want to play. And getting actual game time is a big component of player development. They’ve taken all the steps necessary to get acclimated to what we do, what our system is, what our identity is, and are in phenomenal shape.

“The next natural step is to now compete, go five on five.”

The Skyforce open their season Saturday against the G League affiliate of the Indiana Pacers.

The Heat’s other two-way player, forward Jamal Cain, is out due to illness, having spent time last season with the Skyforce.

“We’ll see,” Spoelstra said of Cain possibly joining Swider and Hampton in Sioux Falls. “We’re open to all of it. If guys aren’t playing enough minutes or in any of the games, we’re constantly evaluating that.”

Haslem reaction

With Udonis Haslem on Tuesday named a vice president of basketball development for the Heat, there was an enthusiastic embrace of the move Wednesday.

“Man, I’m happy for him,” Adebayo said of the former Heat captain. “He gets to stay around, gets to stay in the groove. He still gets to bring life into this team. And obviously is a mentor guy.”

Spoelstra had previously hinted such a move was in the works.

“I think it’s phenomenal,” Spoelstra said, with Haslem retiring last season, after spending all 20 of his NBA seasons with the team. “I think we were all aware that it was going to happen at some point. He’s right where he should be. And that’s fully involved in our organization from a culture standpoint, and that will be all encompassing. It will be time with us, time with the players in the locker room, time with the coaching staff, time with the front office. And he even wants to learn the business, as well.

“And that’s what you really admire about UD. He doesn’t want to just take a paycheck and punch the time clock. He wants to be involved, he wants to learn, he wants to continue to grow. This is a phenomenal first step for him and for our organization and our culture, to have the guy that really embodies the culture.”