Athlete Spotlight: Bam Adebayo - Listen To The Olympics On iHeartRadio

If you are wondering how to listen to the Olympics, iHeartRadio has you covered. iHeartRadio is the exclusive audio home of NBC's coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics, so it is the only place to listen to the Olympics stream. The free iHeart app is where to go to listen to exclusive play-by-play action of Team USA . To celebrate, we are spotlighting some of the country's athletes that are vying for gold.

Born as Edrice Femi Adebayo on July 18, 1997, in Newark, New Jersey, US athlete Bam Adebayo has had an inspiring journey from humble beginnings to NBA stardom. Raised by his mother, Marilyn Blount, in a single-parent household, Adebayo faced significant financial difficulties after his father left. The family relocated to South Carolina, living in a run-down caravan while his mother worked as a cashier, struggling to make ends meet. Despite these challenges, Adebayo's mother emphasized the importance of education, hoping to secure a brighter future for her son.

Adebayo's exceptional athletic talents and standout performances for his local Northside High School in Pinetown, North Carolina, caught the attention of scouts and earned him a scholarship to the University of Kentucky. There, Adebayo continued to excel, playing a pivotal role in the Kentucky Wildcats' success and their Southeastern Conference championship honors.

His success at the collegiate level propelled him into the NBA, where the Miami Heat selected him as the 14th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Adebayo became a key player for the Heat, showcasing his versatile abilities and strong work ethic on the court. In 2020, he earned his first All-Star appearance. During that pandemic-hit season, the Miami Heat reached the NBA Finals, competing in the unique environment of the NBA bubble and ultimately losing to LeBron James 's Los Angeles Lakers. Three years later, he reached another NBA Finals with the Heat, this time falling short against the Denver Nuggets at the final step. Between his two NBA Finals losing efforts, Bam starred with the United States as a key member of the gold-winning team at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Adebayo has come a long way from that caravan park but has never forgotten his roots. He has since bought his mother a house, which contains a framed picture of the caravan in which he grew up.

From exclusive NBC play-by-play action of Team USA to live hourly updates from the Games to original Summer Games podcasts, you can listen to the Olympics stream only on iHeartRadio . Find out more about how to listen .