The Heat have been without Bam Adebayo for a while.
On December 1, the Heat announced that Adebayo suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right thumb during the team’s loss to the Nuggets, adding that he will undergo surgery.
INJURY UPDATE: Bam Adebayo suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb during Monday’s game against Denver and will have surgery this weekend.
You will be provided with a timeline for your post-operative return.
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 1, 2023
Adebayo has appeared in 18 games this season. In 32.9 minutes, he is averaging 18.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game, shooting 51.9 percent from the field.
What’s next for Adebayo? Here’s everything we know about his injury and the latest news on when he can return to the pitch.
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What is Bam Adebayo’s injury?
Adebayo has suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right thumb.
Here is the play in which Adebayo seems to have been injured:
Here’s the play during Heat-Nuggets where Bam Adebayo injured his right thumb. He goes up for a pass and slams his hand into Jeff Green’s. You can see him grabbing his hand afterwards. He later entered the last room with his right hand bandaged. pic.twitter.com/KSWhm4JgBk
—Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) December 1, 2023
How long will Bam Adebayo be out?
The Heat announced that a timeline on Adebayo’s return after he undergoes surgery will be provided, but ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that he is expected to miss four to six weeks.
ESPN Sources: The expected timeline on Bam Adebayo’s return from Miami with thumb surgery imminent: Four to six weeks.
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 1, 2023
According to Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes, the average time lost to surgery during the season to repair a torn UCL is 26 games or about seven weeks.
Re: Bam Adebayo: The average time lost to surgery during the season to repair a torn thumb UCL is 26 games (~7 weeks). Chris Paul and Marcus Smart were the quickest again, missing 39 days (14 games) and 44 days (15 games), respectively.
—Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) December 1, 2023
Adebayo has appeared in 18 of a possible 21 games so far this season. He missed three games earlier in the season with a knee injury. Dewayne Dedmon started in his place in those games.
Following their loss to the Nuggets, the Heat sit in third place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 13-8 record.
UPDATE (January 14, 2023): According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Adebayo could return for Miami’s matchup with Toronto on Monday, January 17.
Following surgery on his right thumb six weeks ago, Miami Heat All-Star center Bam Adebayo is aiming to return against the Toronto Raptors on Monday, sources have told ESPN. Adebayo, who is averaging 18.7 points and 10.2 rebounds, has been rising on the court this week.
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 14, 2023
Heat upcoming calendar 2023-22
| Date | Adversary | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| fri, jan 14 | versus atlanta | 20:00 |
| saturday, jan fifteen | against Philly | 20:00 |
| Wed, January 17 | against toronto | 19:30 |
| Wednesday, January 19 | versus portland | 19:30 |
| fri, jan twenty-one | in atlanta | 19:30 |
| Sunday, January 23 | vs. The Angels | 18:00 |
| Wednesday, January 26 | against New York | 19:30 |
| fri, jan 28 | against A | 20:00 |
