Bam Adebayo Surprises A'ja Wilsion With Her Record Fourth MVP Award

In mid-September, at the Las Vegas Aces’ practice facility, Miami Heat center Adebayo entered with a trophy that A’ja Wilson did not know awaited her. It was Wilson’s latest WNBA MVP award and had been presented to her in a small private ceremony before it was announced two days later by the league. When Wilson looked up and realized it was Adebayo and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert approaching her, she collapsed to the floor with joy as her teammates ran in to celebrate. It was nothing but pure, unfiltered joy.

Adebayo spoke about the day for the first time on Monday at Heat media day, the team’s annual precursor to training camp, referring to it as a special moment for special person. He also said the same thing many who have followed Wilson know already: she is the best in the business. According to Adebayo, being able to be a part of recognizing her while she was able to feel it in real-time meant everything. In his own words, he said it is important to give a person their flowers while they can still smell them.

In Las Vegas, the moment itself was probably short and simple, but it captured a lot about their friendship. Adebayo and Wilson have been tight for a long time. They show up for each other. Wilson flew across the country between games to be in Miami when Adebayo was recognized post-Paris Olympics. And Adebayo makes it a point to pop into Aces games if it works with their schedule. They celebrate individual accomplishments and help each other get better.

As Adebayo sees it, that could be the greatest gift of all. When you find yourself in the star category, it’s hard to find people who really understand what you are going through. Wilson understands. She plays a different game, in a different league, with different coaches. But the demands feel similar: the pressure, the adjustments, the grind. They talk post-game. He asks questions. She shares honest answers. Adebayo says that two-way street has helped him improve.

Their resumes demonstrate that iron sharpens iron. Adebayo is a two-time Olympics gold medalist, three-time NBA All-Star, and five-time All-Defensive team pick. Wilson is a two-time Olympics gold medalist, two-time WNBA champion, two-time scoring champ, and three-time defensive player of the year. These are two of the best players on the planet, in any league. The way they carry it is simple, though: show up, do the work, and elevate all those around you.

The moment publicly honored Wilson, but it also bridged the NBA and WNBA. Fans of both leagues see players supporting one another all the time on social media: sitting courtside at each other’s games, talking hoops in the offseason, sharing workouts, sharing ideas. Adebayo and Wilson take the spirit of support further and make it personal. The support is public, but it’s real. It’s respect.

You could see it all in the way the trophy made an entrance. Adebayo didn’t make a scene. He just walked in with the trophy in his hands and smiled. Wilson didn’t make a scene either. Her body could describe it; she fell to the gym floor with tears and everything else while her teammates wrapped her up. It felt right, like a family moment. Those are the good moments, the ones where love meets work meets time.

Adebayo left Las Vegas with a memory that will stick with him. Now he is back to work. The Heat open camp with targets at the front, just like every other year. He will be the guy and the anchor of the defense, set the tone, and go for another run in the East. Wilson will keep leading the Aces and keep building one of the all-time great careers in the sport. Different schedules, same intention and motivation; win and continue to get better.

What makes this unique is the way it feels tremendously normal; two friends, root for each other. Two stars, stay humble and hungry. Two leaders use their voice to shine a light on another person’s greatness. In a fast-moving sports world, it becomes easy to rush past milestones. Adebayo was intentional on slowing things down, to be present for one of Wilson’s biggest milestones. He assisted in handing her the award and then viewed the happiness wash over her and the room. If you were there, you would have felt it too.

That is the beauty of moments like these; they remind us of why we care. Not just for the stats or the banners, but for the people. For the work it takes to be great, and the friends who make the difficult parts worth it. Adebayo and Wilson understand it. And on that lone day in Las Vegas, the rest of us got to witness it.