Bam Adebayo has been ruled out for Friday's preseason game against the Magic because of a right groin injury, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports. The Heat center remains Day-to-Day, the same status he carried into Friday's report, with the injury report listing an expected return of Oct. 21.
What happened
Bam Adebayo has been ruled out for Friday's preseason game against the Magic with a right groin injury, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reported Friday at 5:44 PM ET. The Heat center remains Day-to-Day, the same status he held entering the report. He first appeared with the groin issue on Wednesday, also Day-to-Day, after working through a rest-related Day-to-Day listing on Oct. 10 and a back issue on Sept. 6. He was cleared from that earlier Day-to-Day status on Sept. 29 before the groin injury surfaced this week.
What it means for the Heat
Miami is 0-0 with the 2026-27 season not yet underway, and Friday's matchup at the Magic (7:00 PM ET) is a preseason game. Adebayo averaged 20.1 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 32.4 minutes across 73 games last season, and his absence leaves Miami without its starting center. Kel'el Ware, who has logged 22.1 minutes and 11.1 points in Adebayo's absence this preseason, is positioned to pick up frontcourt minutes, alongside a backcourt led by Tyler Herro (31.3 minutes, 20.5 points), Andrew Wiggins (30.3 minutes, 15.4 points) and Norman Powell (29.6 minutes, 21.7 points). The team has no regular-season games yet to measure a record with or without him.
What to watch
The Heat will update Adebayo's status in upcoming injury reports as the preseason continues ahead of the 2026-27 opener. The report lists an expected return of Oct. 21. Any change in his Day-to-Day status will appear in the next official injury report, with the 2026-27 regular-season opener still ahead on the schedule for Miami.
Is Bam Adebayo playing vs Magic?
No. Adebayo has been ruled out for Friday's preseason game against the Magic because of a right groin injury, according to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel.
When will Bam Adebayo be back?
The injury report lists an expected return of Oct. 21. He remains Day-to-Day with the groin injury, and no further timeline has been announced.