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How Bam Adebayo Convinced Miami’s Medical Staff To Let Him Play Game 4

When the Miami Heat lost two of their key players, in Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic, in Game 1 of the 2020 NBA Finals, it didn’t look like either one of them would be able to make a return before the series had ended.

But before last night’s game, both, Dragic and Adebayo were warming up, trying to see if they could play with their injuries. In Dragic’s case, it was heartbreaking to watch. Clearly dying to play, his foot injury just wouldn’t allow him to.

In Bam’s case though, Miami fans were treated with the good news of his inclusion into the starting five.

Adebayo told ESPN’s Rachel Nichols how he convinced the Heat’s medical staff to let him play. It turns out that he was asked to perform push-ups prior to Game 4, and he passed unlike before Game 3, when he wasn’t able to do one.

“Bam told me he‘d tried to convince the medical staff he could play in Game 3, but when they asked him to do a push-up…it didn’t go well. When they asked him again today – success.”

Bam Adebayo back in the starting lineup. Bam told me he‘d tried to convince the medical staff he could play in Game 3, but when they asked him to do a push-up…it didn’t go well. When they asked him again today – success. pic.twitter.com/ctGRgnVgBm

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) October 7, 2020