Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo reportedly engaged in a physical altercation with former teammate Tyler Herro in Las Vegas early Friday. Sources cited by ESPN indicated that Adebayo struck Herro in the head during an NBA Summer League practice facility. The incident is said to have stemmed from alleged social media comments made by Herro that criticized Adebayo's defensive capabilities.
The alleged comments from Herro surfaced following a trade that sent him to the Milwaukee Bucks, ending his tenure with the Heat. Screenshots circulated online appearing to show Herro questioning Adebayo's defense in an Instagram direct message to a fan. The messages also reportedly questioned whether Adebayo's defensive effort justified his upcoming contract extension, which includes a three-year, $166 million deal agreed to in June 2024.
Herro attended the Bucks-Heat Summer League game on Friday and spoke with reporters afterward, suggesting a positive relationship with his former team. "It's all love in Miami," Herro told Prime Video during the game's broadcast. "We are all good in Miami. Just an opportunity for both sides to reset, get a fresh start, and both are super happy with this."
Neither the Heat nor the Bucks have provided official comments on the incident. The Heat issued a statement saying, "We are aware and not commenting." Milwaukee Bucks head coach Taylor Jenkins stated he had "no comment" and did not know the specifics.
Adebayo, a prominent figure for the Heat, was noted for a franchise-record 83-point performance in March against the Washington Wizards. Herro was named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year in 2022.