Former Heat teammates Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro involved in heated Las Vegas exchange: report
Former Teammates Adebayo and Herro Involved in Altercation at NBA Summer League
A confrontation between former Miami Heat teammates Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro escalated into a physical altercation at an NBA Summer League practice facility in Las Vegas early Friday, according to multiple reports.
The two players, now on separate teams after a blockbuster offseason trade, reportedly clashed when Adebayo confronted Herro over alleged social media messages that criticized his defense. Sources told ESPN that the Heat center struck the Bucks guard in the head during the incident.
The alleged comments from Herro appeared to surface following the trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami and moved Herro to Milwaukee, ending his run alongside Adebayo in South Florida. Screenshots circulated online purporting to show Herro questioning Adebayo's defensive ability in an Instagram direct message with a fan. The exchange also reportedly raised doubts about whether Adebayo's nightly effort justified his hefty contract.
Adebayo signed a three-year, $166 million extension with the Heat in June 2024, putting his annual salary near $60 million. Despite the reported provocation, he had already cemented his place in NBA lore months earlier. In March, he erupted for 83 points against the Washington Wizards, setting a franchise record and surpassing Kobe Bryant's 81-point game for the second-highest single-game scoring performance in league history. Herro, for his part, earned the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award in 2022.
NBA Summer League action returned to the Las Vegas area on Thursday, and both players were present at Friday's Bucks-Heat matchup at Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV campus. The Heat cruised to a 119-86 victory, but the on-court result was overshadowed by the lingering tension between the two former teammates.
After the game, Herro greeted Bucks Summer League players and shared a brief on-court moment with Jaime Jaquez Jr., another player who made the move from Miami to Milwaukee in the same trade. Herro then left the arena without addressing the altercation with Adebayo.
In a sideline interview with Prime Video during the broadcast, Herro struck a cordial tone about his former club.
"It's all love in Miami," Herro said. "I've seen a couple of the guys, coaching staff, Chris Quinn, Spo, the front office guys; 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."
Bucks first-year head coach Taylor Jenkins addressed the situation briefly on SiriusXM NBA Radio, offering little insight.
"I don't really know all the specifics," Jenkins said. "No comment."
Both organizations declined to weigh in further. The Heat released a brief statement saying they were aware of the incident and would not be commenting, while the Bucks also declined to comment.
The trade that separated Adebayo and Herro sent shockwaves through the league, as Antetokounmpo's arrival in Miami instantly reshaped the Eastern Conference landscape. Herro's move to Milwaukee paired him with a franchise building around its young core, while Adebayo remains the cornerstone of a Heat roster now built around the two-time MVP.
It remains unclear whether the NBA will take any disciplinary action stemming from Friday's incident.
