An NBA player coming even remotely close to matching Wilt Chamberlain’s legendary 100-point game should be a source of enjoyment and pride for basketball fans. But Bam Adebayo’s 83-point performance has been extremely polarizing, and continues to be.

Certain fans keep pointing at the 43 free throw attempts, as well as Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra intentionally fouling to get Bam more possessions, as reasons for their discontment with the performance. Many felt it wasn’t right to do those things, which led to Adebayo surpassing the late, great Kobe Bryant on the all-time single-game scoring list.

Spoelstra has come out to defend Adebayo and himself, strongly opining that “I apologize to absolutely no one“. The coach blamed the Washington Wizards instead, for not doubling Adebayo until later in the game, even when it was clear from the get-go that he had the magic that night.

Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game came on the birthday of his late grandmother

Now, several days later, we’re starting to understand why Adebayo played so well that night and why it meant so much to him. March 10, the night of Adebayo’s 83-point game, would have been the birthday of his late grandmother. Adebayo’s mom spoke to the Miami Herald and revealed that fact, which has shifted the narrative completely for critics: “I told him, ‘Bam, I know mama was jumping for joy up there in heaven for you, boy.’ That was a blessing.“

Many fans who were critical of Adebayo’s performance started walking back their negative comments after that statement surfaced. Clearly, Adebayo had some divine intervention on that night. It would have been a wasted opportunity to not chase greatness, no matter in which manner it had to be done.