Bam Adebayo’s Historic 83-Point Night Comes in Unreleased Air Jordans

Miami Heat All-Star center Bam Adebayo surpassed Kobe Bryant to put up 83 points Tuesday night for the second-most points scored in a game in NBA history — and he did so in a pair of unreleased Air Jordans mashing up two models from the series.

Adebayo’s historic night came in the Air Jordan 4028, which is a hybrid of the newest Air Jordan model and the Air Jordan 28. While maintaining the sole unit and heel counter of the Air Jordan 40, the upper of the sneaker is practically identical to the Air Jordan 28’s with its high-top zippered shroud. The colorway is likewise pulled from the elder model’s launch edition with black as the dominant color and a neon green used for the external branding and the sneaker’s internal components.

In its base build, the Air Jordan 40 already borrows elements from throughout the line’s history. At least seven other pairs or Js are represented through nods including the Air Jordan 3’s heel clip and eyelets, the Air Jordan 5’s tongue and bone-line stitching from the Air Jordan 14.

Jordan Brand has also released or will release other hybrid versions of the Air Jordan 40 bringing in the Air Jordan 1, Air Jordan 14 and Air Jordan 23.

Conversations around Adebayo’s feat are going beyond the requisite awe because of how unexpected it is that he’d be the one to do it and the nature of his output, which included 36 made free throws on 43 attempts.

His point total is behind only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962. Bryant’s 81-point game came just a few months more than 20 years ago in 2006.

Firm release details have yet to be confirmed for the Air Jordan 4028, but it’s expected to release during the summer 2026 season through Nike’s website and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $205.