Why is Bam Adebayo called Bamonte? Explaining Team USA forward’s nickname

Team USA and Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo goes by his nickname, Bam, which has evolved into another nickname at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Adebayo goes by Bam because of “Bamm-Bamm Rubble” from The Flintstones, as he flipped a coffee table over when he was a year old while watching the show. His legal name is Edrice Feli Adebayo.

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Adebayo has been referred to as Bamonte by his teammates during the last two Games, dating back to the Tokyo Olympics. Even commentators Noah Eagle and Dwyane Wade have referred to the forward as Bamonte, with Wade screaming Bamonte after the 6-foot-9 Kentucky grad made a 3-pointer against South Sudan on Wednesday.

Adebayo scored four points with two rebounds and two assists off the bench in the United States’ dominant 110-84 win over Serbia on Sunday.

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Here’s why Adebayo is being called Bamonte at the Olympics:

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Why is Bam Adebayo called Bamonte?

Adebayo’s new nickname stems from the Tokyo Olympics, when Adebayo walked off the court with former Team USA member Javale McGee, who asked what his first name was short for.

Adebayo goes by Bam, which is a nickname. The name isn’t short for anything, as it comes from “Bamm-Bamm Rubble” a character in The Flintstones. Adebayo’s given first name is Edrice.

Adebayo responded to McGee by saying it meant “by any means” with McGee saying, “That’s an acronym.”

McGee then says, “I know your real name like, Bamonte or something.”

Adebayo’s nickname has become prevalent once again in the 2024 Paris Olympics, after Team USA players were asked what the best nickname on the team was. Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Jrue Holiday all responded with Bamonte being the best of the entire roster.

Holiday then explained the origin.

“So last Olympics, Javale McGee asked him what his real name was,” Holiday said. “He was like, ‘it’s probably Bamonte or something.’

Holiday was then asked what Adebayo’s real name was, and after briefly pausing, he said, “is it Edrice?”

What is Bam Adebayo’s real name?

Adebayo’s real name is Edrice, although he goes by Bam.

His nickname comes from “Bamm-Bamm Rumble,” a character in The Flintstones. Adebayo flipped a coffee table when he was a year old while he was watching the show, which inspired his mother to call him Bam.