What do the All-Stars on Team USA Men’s Basketball do on off days during the Olympics? This new video circulating on social media should give us an idea. In the humorous video, we see Miami Heat and Team USA big man Bam Adebayo pick up an unexpected sport: fencing. Could we see Adebayo taking the field on another Olympic sport in 2028?
Bam Adebayo on Heat, Team USA, and fencing?
In a video going around on X, formerly Twitter, Adebayo picks up the basics of fencing during a break from Team USA activities during the Paris Olympics. The video also shows the Heat cager taking lessons from British-American fencer Miles Chamley-Watson on proper fencing stances and body positioning. Adebayo even gets to try on an official fencing costume, gloves and full-face mask included.
“You’re ready for the Olympics!” the champion fencer told him at one point.
The video ends with Chamley-Watson signing Adebayo’s sneakers. “It’s funny because when I first mentioned like fencing he was the first to be like, Nah, bro, I got you,” the Heat All-Star said. By the end of the video, we might start wondering, “What if the decorated Heat big man decided to play a different sport in the next Olympics?”
After all, ex-Houston Rocket Chase Budinger has just won his debut game in Olympic beach volleyball. The former NBA forward spent seven seasons in the NBA, where he played for four different teams.
Team USA’s Olympic progress
Bam Adebayo certainly contributed to Team USA clinching a quarterfinal berth at the Paris Olympics after their victory over South Sudan on Wednesday. Leading the bench squad, the Heat All-Star and DPOY finalist scored 18 points on 8-10 shooting. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant and Anthony Edwards contributed 14 and 13 points, respectively. LeBron James also added 12 points in the winning effort. With this victory, Team USA has locked up the No. 1 seed in Group C with a 3-0 record. They are joined by Canada, France, and Germany in their journey to the gold medal.
The Americans will face Puerto Rico on Saturday. Although Puerto Rico has already been eliminated from medal contention, Team USA looks determined to maintain their winning effort. In 2004, the Puerto Rican team embarrassed Team USA with a 92-73 loss in the Athens Olympics, where the Americans settled for a bronze medal. A victory over the current Puerto Rico team would improve the US’ chances of locking up a top-two seed in the knockout round and an easier matchup in the quarterfinals.
Head coach Steve Kerr praised his team’s effort. “We’ve got 12 guys who are all capable of dominating,” he said. “Every night is going to be a little different. But we like our chances with the number of great players we have on our roster.”
