The NBA season is in full swing, but Netflix is giving fans a chance to look back on a remarkable summer of basketball with the release of Court of Gold. This six-episode documentary provides a behind-the-scenes look at some of the top teams from the 2024 Paris Olympics, including Team USA, who secured the gold medal.
Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo played a key role in the squad, logging important minutes off the bench behind Dallas Mavericks’ Anthony Davis and, at times, Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid. His contributions were highly valued by Team USA heading into the tournament.
NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill, who serves as Team USA’s managing director, had nothing but praise for Adebayo in the Netflix series.
Grant Hill Praises Bam Adebayo in Court of Gold: ‘One of the Most Underrated’ Players
“He’s a superstar,” Hill said of Adebayo. “He’s an All-Star in this NBA. He won a gold medal in ‘21. But he’s kind of a blue-collar, lunch-pail guy in terms of his mentality… He can guard anyone on earth. Literally, he can guard anybody. And, oh, by the way, he goes out, and he gets you 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds a game. Maybe one of the most underrated players in the game of basketball.”
Adebayo played in all six Olympic games, averaging 16.0 minutes per contest while contributing 6.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.
Team USA’s head coach also recognized Adebayo’s leadership, emphasizing his impact in the locker room.
“Bam is one of the most impressive human beings I’ve ever been around,” said Steve Kerr. “He’s got just a great belief in what he’s doing. But submits to the team. To the group. And that’s powerful. It’s a powerful force. Every meeting, when he walks into the room, he slaps five with every single guy. Never fails. Every day is a good day for Bam.”
Even Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade weighed in on Adebayo’s unique skill set.
“Bam, as an NBA player, is versatile,” Wade said. “When you look at an Olympic team, you try to put an Olympic team together, you want guys that can play multiple roles. You got to find these guys that do not need the ball to be successful. Can still make an impact on the game. And Bam is one of those guys.”
Although Adebayo isn’t having his best offensive season, Court of Gold serves as a reminder of what makes him special—his versatility and elite two-way play. Hill’s words should give Heat fans even more confidence in their
franchise cornerstone.
