The Miami Heat have stumbled out of the gate in the 2026-27 NBA season, losing their first four games, including a narrow 113-109 defeat to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night. This rocky start follows the high hopes that came with the summer acquisition of Giannis Antetokounmpo, but concerns about his fit alongside Bam Adebayo have quickly materialized.

Bam Adebayo is experiencing the worst start to his career as a full-time starter, averaging just 11.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game on disappointing shooting splits of 40.0/16.7/61.5. While it’s early in the season, these numbers raise alarms about the compatibility of the two stars.

Adebayo expressed frustration about being perceived as the "scapegoat" for the Heat's struggles, emphasizing that the team’s lack of offensive depth exacerbates his situation. Davion Mitchell, the starting point guard, highlighted the issue after the loss, acknowledging that Adebayo and Antetokounmpo tend to occupy the same spaces on the court. He stated, "He got to be more aggressive... I think him and Giannis play in the same spaces, and then when Giannis is on the floor, he can't be in those spaces."

The challenge lies in Antetokounmpo's unwillingness to adapt his game, as evidenced by his previous partnership with Damian Lillard. This raises questions about whether Adebayo can successfully adjust his play style after a decade in the league.

Currently, Adebayo's struggles include a decline in his 3-point shooting and a significant drop in his two-point attempts, which are at their lowest since he became a starter. As Mitchell pointed out, Adebayo needs to be more aggressive, but achieving that becomes difficult when he’s not positioned comfortably on the court. The onus now rests on Adebayo to either adapt or face continued adversity in this new partnership.