MIAMI -- The climb was stealth, because even in the best of his scoring times, Bam Adebayo rarely has been defined by point production.
So as he addressed his 29-point performance in the wake of Tuesday night's victory over the Phoenix Suns, it was as if the Miami Heat center was delivering some type of revelation, that, yes, he moments earlier had passed Alonzo Mourning for second place on the franchise's all-time scoring list.
"I didn't know," coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged the day after, as he turned his attention to Thursday night's visit by the Boston Celtics to Kaseya Center. "I would have mentioned something to him after the game in the locker room. That's really incredible. It's stunning, really."
Only so, Spoelstra said, because of how it seemed that Mourning was with the franchise so much longer than Adebayo.
The reality is that Mourning played 593 career regular-season games with the Heat. Tuesday night's 29-point performance came in Adebayo's 599th career Heat regular-season appearance.
"It felt like Zo was here for 20 years," Spoelstra said, of what actually were all or parts of 11 seasons with the Heat, "It just shows you the consistency, the availability, the reliability and Bam's improvement every single year, to be able to have that kind of accomplishment in our organization."
Fittingly, Mourning was back in the Heat's gym with Adebayo the day after the passing of the No. 2 torch, with Mourning a fixture at Heat practices in his role of Heat Vice President of Player Programs.
"It was awesome to have Zo here today," Spoelstra said with a smile, "so Bam could talk some smack to him."
And, yes, Adebayo said, the requisite smack was featured with the Heat icon during that session on the practice court.
But, also, Adebayo said, respect offered.
"It's been a long time I've been here," Adebayo said, joining the Heat in the first-round of the 2017 NBA draft out of Kentucky. "But, you know, being able to bring up those old legends, being able to pass them is obviously great.
"When I first started," Adebayo said of his interactions with Mourning, "it was kind of like, 'Young fella, you can do good in this league. Keep trying, keep going.' And now it's like, 'You've passed me, so you're doing something right.' "
Passing Mourning's 9,459 Heat points was one thing. Up next on the franchise all-time scoring list are Dwyane Wade's 21,556.
"I mean, he knows," Adebayo said of a chase that likely will be at least a decade in the making.
More significant to Adebayo is passing Udonis Haslem on the Heat's all-time rebound list. Adebayo went into Thursday in second place with 5,334, with Haslem's record at 5,791.
"I've been really chasing UD right now," Adebayo said,"that rebound record."
As for his place on the scoring list, it largely has been a struggle in that regard this season. That's what made the climb up the ladder all the more meaningful, with Adebayo saying he had been in touch with both Wade and Haslem amid his scoring struggles -- with the introspection and advice actually starting at home.
'I mean, one of them lives with me,' Adebayo said, referring to partner and WNBA star A'ja Wilson. 'But obviously when you're frustrated, you contact some guys that are scorers, like D-Wade, UD, because you know I see myself as like the mix between them both.'
Prior to Tuesday night, Adebayo had not scored more than 16 points in his previous 11 games. He said the approaching Mourning milestone had been on his mind.
"It's like this weird thing when it comes to I'm getting close to milestones," he said. "It's like it'll take me four or five, I don't want to say like off nights or whatever."
He said it was a similar feeling last season when he passed Rony Seikaly in that hyped race for the franchise all-time lead in double-doubles.
"It took me like four or five games to get that double-double," Adebayo said. "And it's like, one of those things is just weird to me."
So now Mourning in the rearview mirror, with Haslem and Wade up ahead.
"I knew the table was going to turn at some point," Adebayo said.