NBA won't punish Adebayo

The NBA will not punish Miami Heat player Bam Adebayo for punching former teammate Tyler Hiro in a Las Vegas gym.

"After speaking with the players involved in the incident and the NBA Players Association (NBPA), everyone feels it is best to put this unpleasant situation behind us and the league will not take any further action," an NBA spokesperson told ESPN.

The incident occurred last Friday in a hotel gym in Las Vegas.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Adebayo approached Hiro about his criticism and comments on social media, after they played together for seven seasons for Miami.

Hiro responded in a way that Adebayo took as a provocation, leading to a physical altercation. Sources said Adebayo punched Hiro in the chin, but there are differing versions of the incident.

According to these sources, Hiro did not fall to the ground, and those present in the gym held him back so that he would not fight back.

Hiro recently moved to Milwaukee as part of a big trade, and center Giannis Antetokounmpo moved to Miami.

"Honestly, I'm just trying to move on. I'm focused on Milwaukee and building something special. They just traded the greatest player in franchise history, so we want to come in and help them continue what they've been building," Hiro told ESPN earlier in the week.

Hiro averaged 20,5 points, 4,8 rebounds and 4,1 assists in 33 games last season, after missing the start of the season due to left ankle surgery.

During the 2024/2025 season, he was selected as an All-Star, when he averaged 23,9 points, 5,5 assists and 5,2 rebounds in 77 games.

Adebayo is a three-time All-Star and a member of the NBA's 2023/2024 All-Defensive Team. He was named to the Second All-Defensive Team five times, including last season, in which he averaged 20,1 points and had 10 rebounds, 3,2 assists and 1,2 steals per game.

In March, he set a franchise record by scoring 83 points in a game against Washington.