It’s no secret Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo has been consistently good on defense for quite some time now. The thing is, the Team USA star is getting annoyed about being constantly snubbed to win the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Adebayo was selected 14th overall by the Heat in the 2017 NBA Draft after playing one season at the University of Kentucky. As a rookie, he came off the bench, averaging 6.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. In the 2018-19 season, Adebayo’s role increased, and he started 73 games, averaging 8.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.
Adebayo’s breakout season came in 2019-20 when he was named an NBA All-Star for the first time. He started all 72 games, posting career-highs of 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. Adebayo helped lead the Heat to the 2020 NBA Finals, where they lost to the LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers.
Over the next two seasons, Adebayo continued to improve, making the All-Defensive Second Team in 2020-21 and 2021-22. In the 2022-23 season, he had a career-high in scoring at 20.4 points per game and helped the Heat reach the NBA Finals again, where they fell to the Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets.
This past season, the Heat star was named to his first All-Defensive First Team and earned his third All-Star selection. At just 26 years old, the versatile big man has established himself as one of the league’s premier two-way players.
Miami Heat Big Man Bam Adebayo Shares Thoughts About DPOY Snub
Even though he has been consistently good on defense, Adebayo has always lost out to other guys for the DPOY. In a report by Vincent Goodwill for Yahoo Sports, the Miami star opens up about missing out on the said award.
“I have to do all this and average 20, 10 and 5,” he said to Yahoo Sports recently, muttering down the hallway at Las Vegas’ Bellagio hotel.
“That’s one thing that irks me, it’s not my fault I’m versatile,” Adebayo said. “I’ve been top five in DPOY voting the last five years, there’s been guys y’all (media) been giving it to over me.”
Last season, Adebayo averaged 19.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and almost a lone block per game. He is also connecting 52 percent from the field and 35 percent on very limited attempts from deep during that period.
Adebayo sure has a good reason for taking that snug the hard way. Hopefully, the upcoming season is going to be the one for the Miami Heat star and the award he currently covets.
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