Antoni Damiel downplays the "drama" after Bam Adebayo's 83 points: "We are bothered by records that we have mythologized"

The historic performance of Bam Adebayo, who scored 83 points in a game, has sparked intense debate within the NBA community. Among the most discussed reflections are those of the journalist and analyst Ántoni Daimiel, who has explained on his X account why an achievement of this caliber has also stirred discomfort among many fans.

According to Daimiel, the first reason for the impact has to do with the protagonist himself. The performance completely shatters the image that many had of the Miami center. "The 83 points by Adebayo has not sat well with many. First, because it disrupts our understanding and the perception we had of this player," explains the commentator. In his opinion, the player's profile did not match an explosive scoring display like this: "a short center who never had a good shot and started shooting threes last season at 27 years old."

The second factor mentioned by the analyst relates to the collective memory of basketball. Surpassing certain figures is not just a statistical matter but also emotional. "Secondly, because it surpasses a record that we still remember, that of the 81 by Kobe Bryant, thus slightly overshadowing 'The Mamba's' legacy," says Daimiel in reference to Kobe Bryant's legendary game in 2006.

The current competitive context is also part of his analysis. According to the journalist, the achievement is influenced by the time of the season and certain league dynamics. "Thirdly, because the feat is conditioned by the most extreme 'tanking' times our eyes have seen," he points out.

The unfolding of the game helps understand how the record was built. From early on, the game took on an extraordinary dimension. "He had 31 in the first quarter, which put the achievement into perspective. 43 at halftime fueled it," recalls Daimiel. From that point on, he explains, the whole team started acting with that goal in mind: "The entire team and coach aimed at the possibility, typical of an era where you are more focused than ever on the imprint you leave, including the 24-hour stories."

The analyst also compares the performance with other historic nights in the NBA. When Bryant scored his 81 points, he took 46 shots and assumed a significant portion of his team's scoring. "Kobe scored 81 out of 122 for his team," he recalls. In contrast, in Adebayo's case, the collective production was higher: "Adebayo took three fewer shots and scored 83 out of 150."

Daimiel extends the comparison to another of the most legendary performances in basketball history: Wilt Chamberlain's 100 points in 1962. That night was also influenced by particular circumstances: "When Chamberlain scored 100, his teammates kept fouling to create more possessions and shots for Wilt, who made 21 baskets in the 4th quarter."

Beyond the numbers, the journalist reflects on the emotional reaction these records evoke. "We are bothered by records we idolize being broken, especially when broken by someone we didn't think would achieve it," he asserts. In that sense, he points out that Adebayo has never been a high scorer: "Adebayo averages 16 ppg in his career."

However, what bothers Daimiel most is not the record itself but how it was competitively constructed. "What bothers me the most is artificially constructed competition," he explains. And he elaborates: "That a team in March can start thinking that their player may achieve such a feat from the end of the first quarter, with little resistance from the opposing team due to lack of desire or ability."

Daimiel wants to put the debate into perspective

Yet, the commentator urges to put the debate into perspective. "But let's not be so hurt about it," he concludes, before expanding the reflection towards the future of sports and technology. Daimiel envisions a scenario where artificial intelligence allows us to reinterpret the past: "Soon AI will have us play the 2006 Kobe against the 2026 Adebayo and we will evaluate their efforts."

He even recalls that one of the most iconic moments in the NBA was not even recorded on video. "Or we will be able to see Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game, which was neither taped nor televised," he points out.

The journalist's conclusion is almost philosophical: technological advancements could change how we remember sports. "Reality will feel insufficient, and artificially created scenarios will captivate us." Meanwhile, nights like Adebayo's will continue sparking debate between those who celebrate the record and those who prefer to preserve the myths that are part of NBA history.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Antoni Damiel relativiza el "drama" tras los 83 puntos de Bam Adebayo: “Nos molestan que se batan récords que tenemos mitificados”