“It’s Actually Scary”: A’ja Wilson Has To Remind Boyfriend Bam Adebayo To Not Be As Competitive

It has been over a year since the Paris Olympics and Team USA’s gold medal-winning performance. The Games were all the more special for Bam Adebayo, who returned home with another prize, A’Ja Wilson.

The two basketball stars may have been dating even earlier. But the French capital is where their relationship became somewhat public. Now, they talk about each other openly, and Wilson recently revealed something unique about her partner.

Wilson is a WNBA all-time great. The credentials were cemented further after she captured her fourth MVP earlier this year and won another ring with the Las Vegas Aces. Adebayo may not be on quite the same league-wide star level in the NBA, but he is unquestionably an icon as far as the Miami Heat fans are concerned. One area where Adebayo eclipses Wilson, possibly, is sheer competitiveness.

Apparently, even when Adebayo and Wilson are at home chilling or playing something together, the Heat star forgets the informal setting and treats it like a Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

“It’s actually scary how competitive it is. We do escape rooms in our off time. Sometimes I’m like, ‘Bam, we’re on the same team,’” said Wilson on the Not Gonna Lie podcast.

“But he finds a clue, let me go find one before him. I’m like, ‘Oh my god, I’m doing it, A’ja.’ Like, I’m like, ‘Really? Come on.’ So, yeah, it’s very competitive. Very competitive,” she added.

It’s natural for even Wilson to be competitive. You don’t become a basketball legend without that. But going at each other’s throats while playing Escape Room? It possibly works for their relationship, so fair play to them. But it’s not always about ‘who’s better’ either.

Wilson and Adebayo have had plenty of sweet moments captured over the last year. While Wilson was celebrating her WNBA Championship win earlier this year, Adebayo was on her side and was even helping her while she was busy reveling in the moment.

The way they support each other has also been heartwarming to see. In a segment on Good Morning America, the host had once said what fans all over felt. “We see you with him [Adebayo], we see him at your games, with your family, how have you been able to support each other as professional athletes?” 

Wilson replied to that by stating that support is the foundation of their relationship. They knew it wasn’t going to be easy, considering the spotlight on both of them at all times.

“At the end of the day, we want it to work, and when we see behind the scenes, when we see the down days, the good days, we know we have to show up, because you know how hard it took to get to the point,” Wilson added. “In my eyes, he’s perfect.”