The NBA Summer League in Las Vegas is usually where you see rookies trying to earn a roster spot and undrafted guys fighting for a two-way contract. It’s not typically where you see two All-Star caliber teammates from the same organization get into a physical altercation on a practice court. But that’s exactly what happened between Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, and now we’re getting a clearer picture of what’s been festering beneath the surface.
ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news that Adebayo struck Herro during a workout in Vegas, with some people pointing to a social media post from Herro that shaded Adebayo’s mid-range shooting. That much we knew. But the real tension goes back further, to the trade talks that sent Herro to Milwaukee as part of the package that landed Giannis Antetokounmpo in Miami.
According to a report from Yahoo Sports’ Kelly Iko, people with ties to the Heat organization believe a big part of Herro’s frustration is that Adebayo stayed silent during those negotiations. Not a word publicly, not a push behind the scenes to make sure the front office understood Herro’s value to the team. Just nothing.
Denver’s Cam Johnson, who knows a thing or two about locker room dynamics, told reporters that every situation like this is different. He basically said it’s easy to understand why someone might feel a certain way when a teammate doesn’t go to bat for them. Which is kind of an understatement when you consider Herro has been the subject of trade rumors basically every offseason since his rookie season.
Here’s the thing about the Adebayo-Herro situation that makes it complicated. They were never just teammates. They were the two young cornerstones of a Heat team that made two Finals runs. Herro was the Sixth Man of the Year. Adebayo was the defensive anchor and a three-time All-Defensive selection. They were supposed to be the future together. Then the Giannis rumors started, and suddenly Herro was the obvious trade chip.
The fact that Adebayo didn’t say anything, according to the people close to Miami, is what got under Herro’s skin. Not that the Heat explored the trade. That’s just business. But when your co-star doesn’t speak up for you, it stings differently. Especially when that co-star is the franchise’s defensive backbone and has more pull in the organization than most people realize.
Herro’s Instagram spam account post that showed Adebayo as one of the worst mid-range shooters in the league was clearly a shot. It wasn’t subtle. And it came right before the Summer League incident that reportedly ended with Adebayo throwing a punch. Nobody’s saying Herro started the physical stuff, but the animosity was already there. That graphic didn’t come from nowhere.
So now both guys are on different teams. Adebayo stays in Miami. Herro’s in Milwaukee, ironically as part of the deal that finally got Giannis to the Heat. The first matchup between the Bucks and Heat next season is going to be something. You can bet the league office is already circling that date on the calendar and wondering if they need extra security.
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