No Dunks Podcast — March 11, 2026

Episode Title: Bam Adebayo Scores 83 Points And Everybody Loses Their Minds

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Skeets, Tas, Trey, and JD dive into a truly historic NBA night, headlined by Bam Adebayo’s stunning 83-point performance—the second-highest scoring game in league history. The hosts break down the wild circumstances of Bam's game, the reaction around the NBA world, and place the feat in the context of other legendary single-game scoring outbursts. The episode also covers Jalen Brown’s ejection, Victor Wembanyama’s clash with Brown, and other outstanding NBA performances that were overshadowed by Bam-mania. To wrap, the crew introduces their Western Conference "pyramid" playoff rankings, all in their signature energetic and irreverent tone.

Main Theme

Historic Scoring: The Wild, Wacky, and Wonderful Night of Bam Adebayo

• Bam Adebayo drops 83 points, surpassing Kobe Bryant’s 81-point mark for the second-most points in a game, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100.
• The NBA world reacts in real-time, group chats light up, and the No Dunks team analyzes both the product on the floor and the entertainment spectacle such nights provide.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Bam Adebayo’s 83-Point Game: Play-by-Play Reaction & Analysis

• Early Domination (02:47-05:00):

  • Bam's scoring totals: “He had thirty one points at the end of the first quarter, forty three by halftime, sixty two by the end of the third. He finished twenty for forty three from the field, thirty six for forty three from the foul line, and seven of twenty two from deep.” (Skeets, 03:18)
  • NBA records set in free throws (both makes and attempts).

• The Perfect Storm (05:23-06:27):

  • No Herro, no Powell for the Heat—everything funneling through Bam against a poor defensive Wizards front line.
  • “Alex sars got great tape for the summer… Bam earned those things. Again, kind of a perfect storm for this guy.” (Trey, 05:51)

• Unusual Fourth Quarter Antics (06:30-07:59):

  • Wizards mix between giving up, triple-teaming, and resorting to intentional fouling to keep Bam off (or on) the line.
  • “It was a bizarre fourth quarter; we’ll absolutely get into it, but this man was cooking.” (Skeets, 04:16)
  • “I don’t really love intentionally fouling to send a guy to the free throw line... But teams do that to get stars to a certain total.” (Trey, 06:30)

• Comparisons to Other Scoring Feats (07:15-12:32):

  • Contextualizing with historic games: Wilt’s 100, Kobe’s 81, Booker’s 70. “It gets silly in the final couple minutes. But he was cooking, too.” (JD, 07:15)
  • Ethical debates: “When you get to that seventy plus points mark... are every bucket or every foul drawn ethical, so to speak? No... all of these for the most part have something that gets a little silly.” (JD, 11:14)
  • “Some days feel ordinary, others turn into memories...that was entertaining.” (Skeets, 04:16)

• Bam's Career Context (09:52-11:14)

  • Bam’s previous career high was 41—“to double that thing in one night… it’s a shocker for a guy whose career high was 41.” (Trey, 09:52)
  • “Bam will never have a game like this, not just 83 points. It wouldn’t be surprising… if he never gets 50 again.” (Skeets, 07:59)

Statistical Oddities & NBA Records

• Efficiency Stats (19:07-19:39):

  • "Only 14 teams have taken more free throws in a game this season than Bam's 43."
  • Of all players with 70+ point games, Bam is the only one to shoot under 50% from the field (20/43; 46.5%).

• 3-Point Attempts Anomaly (23:02-24:03):

  • “He’s just the seventh player in history to attempt at least 22 threes in a game… Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, James Harden, Damian Lillard, JR Smith, and Marcus Smart.” (JD, 23:02)

• Notable Companion Fact:

  • “Bam and Simone Fontecchio now the only duo in NBA history that doesn't include Wilt to combine for 100 points in a game.” (JD, 19:07)

The Ethics & Vibe of Chasing Records

• Entertainment vs. "Real" Basketball (12:32-13:52):

  • “This reminded me of a Kobe game…his last game…We don't want to see anybody else touch the ball...The Wizards were, for the most part, out there looking like extras.” (Skeets, 12:32)

• Locker Room and Postgame Atmosphere (18:21-19:07):

  • Bam’s girlfriend A’ja Wilson and his mom in attendance (“Pretty amazing, very cool,” JD, 21:01)
  • “Once they got to the post game interview it was like Norm Powell took one of the questions... unless you do a daily NBA podcast, you couldn't name anybody.” (Skeets, 17:48)

• Fan and Legacy Impact (16:54-17:48):

  • “They’re absolutely livid because... any Kobe stan... they're bringing up Kobe scoring 81. So now... you get to say: who cares, Bam scored 83.” (JD, 16:54)
  • “You can still think Kobe had a better game in his 81… but you don’t need to diminish Bam’s incredible accomplishment.” (JD, 17:28)

Other NBA Headlines

Jalen Brown’s Ejection vs. Spurs (30:54-37:09)

• Ejected for back-to-back technicals after complaining about a non-call; took to social media to vent.
• “He feels aggrieved all the time… He went too hard, that's for sure.” (Trey, 33:02, 33:17)
• Musings on NBA officiating, how referees handle player confrontations, and how absence of stars affects the enjoyment of the game.

Celtics vs. Spurs: Wemby Watch (38:10-44:12)

• “Wemby: 39, 11 ... 8 threes... When the Spurs make 15 or more threes this season, they're 21-1.” (Skeets, 38:10)
• Moments of physicality: “That slow mo of his nose rattles… cartilage was rattling around.” (Trey, 42:11)

Other Notable Performances & Awards (49:26-52:36)

• Multiple career highs and “bad timing awards” as Bam’s line overshadows other great nights.
  • Matas Buzeilis: 41 points
  • Cam Payne: 32 points, perfect from deep (8/8)
  • Ron Harper Jr.: 22 points

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “It was a bizarre fourth quarter… The last twelve minutes, especially the last three minutes, but still, 83 points in a box score, 83 points up on the jumbotron—how cool is that to see?”
  — Skeets, 04:16

• “It can be twisted to fit any agenda you have about today’s game.”
  — JD, quoting Jason Maples’ tweet, 30:32

• “[Bam’s] previous career high was 32, 32, and then he goes and drops fifty more… kind of a perfect storm for this guy.”
  — Trey Kirby, 05:23

• “You could not look away, because you’re like oh my god I don’t care how this happens, this might happen.”
  — JD, 13:52

• “Jalen Brown is the Rodney Dangerfield of the NBA: ‘No respect.’ He feels aggrieved all the time.”
  — Skeets, 33:02

• “The only certainty is that LeBron James is going to play enough games to have the most games played in NBA history... That’s the only certainty.”
  — Trey Kirby, 71:46

Segment Timestamps

• [02:47] — Opening Banter, Bam Adebayo sets NBA records
• [04:16]–[07:59] — Breaking down the scoring barrage, Wizards’ defensive options, ethics of chasing points
• [09:09–13:52] — Real-time reactions, legacy talk, comparison to other NBA legends, postgame scene
• [19:07–24:03] — Advanced stats, standout anomalies, three-point attempts, other weird stats
• [30:54–37:09] — Jalen Brown ejection, referee drama, social media fallout
• [38:10–44:12] — Celtics-Spurs recap, Wemby’s star turn
• [49:26–52:36] — Around the NBA, overshadowed performances, “bad timing” awards
• [62:18–85:06] — Pyramid rankings: Western Conference Playoff Contenders (hand-drawn by Skeets)
• [88:30–89:50] — Whoa Bam of the Night: Bam Adebayo's historic box score

Western Conference Pyramid Rankings (62:18–85:06)

• Tier 4:
  10. Portland Trail Blazers
  9. Golden State Warriors
  8. Phoenix Suns
  7. LA Clippers

• Tier 3:
  6. Houston Rockets
  5. LA Lakers
  4. Minnesota Timberwolves

• Tier 2:
  3. San Antonio Spurs
  2. Denver Nuggets

• Tier 1:

  1. Oklahoma City Thunder

Hosts discuss upward trajectories, playoff potential, and the best/worst coloring jobs on Skeets’ hand-drawn pyramid.

Memorable Moments

• Chat & Group Text Mania:

  • “Every group chat that has any interest in basketball was popping off last night.”
    (Skeets, 04:16)

• Novel Player Comparisons:

  • Bam’s 83 likened to “Marc Gasol going for 83... more known for defense.” (JD, 19:07)

• Metacommentary on NBA Culture:

  • “Fans, coaches, referees, the crowd—everyone gets caught up when a night like this happens.” (JD, 15:08)

• Bam’s Support System:

  • “Pretty amazing—have your girlfriend and your mom in attendance... must have felt like a culmination of his entire literal life up until this point.” (JD, 21:01)

Closing Notes

• The pod wraps with a quick look ahead: Eastern Conference pyramid coming up next episode, a plug for music and pop culture, and a reminder to the “stream team” to leave their takes on Bam’s performance.
• “Embrace the day, people.” (JD, 95:42)

For Listeners Who Want More

If you missed Bam’s 83-point night, this episode brings you up to speed on the box score, the drama, and all the historical context and NBA culture that make these moments unforgettable. The hosts' blend of stats, banter, and offbeat humor ensures you’ll be ready for every group chat argument—and maybe you’ll even appreciate those ‘unethical’ free throws, too.

For further debate:

• Was Bam’s performance more “awesome” or “unethical” (the pod estimates 70/30 split)?
• Who’s next to crack 70+? Who could break Wilt's record?
• How does this change the legend of Kobe's 81?

Presented by: FanDuel
Hosted by: Skeets, Tas, Trey Kirby, and JD