Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo has consistently been one of the best defenders in the NBA, but there’s one accolade that continues to evade him: the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award. Despite his versatility and impact on both ends of the court, Adebayo remains without the honor, a point of frustration for the 27-year-old big man. While he’s been named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Team five times, he has yet to receive the DPOY award, and the media’s criteria for awarding it is something he’s not shy about criticizing. Explore Bam Adebayo’s defensive mastery and the media’s need to reevaluate DPOY award criteria.
In a recent interview, Adebayo took aim at the way media voters select the DPOY, emphasizing that they focus too heavily on statistics like steals and blocks rather than a player’s overall defensive contributions. Bam Adebayo’s defensive mastery is centered around his ability to guard any position from 1 through 5, and his belief is that voters often overlook this defensive versatility.
“It’s getting stops. I’m not into advanced stats,” Adebayo said. “Who can guard their yard 1-5? Whatever coverage your coach puts you in, you can excel. That, to me, is the DPOY, but the media has different opinions—they look at steals and blocks.”
.@jeremytache: “What goes into being the Defensive Player of the Year?”@Bam1of1: “It’s getting stops… Who can guard their yard?” 👀
Listen to the full episode of ‘Miami Mic’d Up’ 🎧 https://t.co/ctiDP4eUvA https://t.co/S5RBW4LZrD pic.twitter.com/io1gNnm54Z— Bally Sports Sun: HEAT (@BallyHEAT) October 16, 2024
Adebayo’s frustration is understandable. His defensive prowess extends far beyond traditional stats. While other players might rack up flashy steal or block numbers, Adebayo excels in areas that often go unnoticed on the stat sheet: contesting shots, switching onto guards, disrupting offensive flow, and defending in multiple areas on the court. Bam Adebayo’s defensive mastery allows him to guard every position from point guards to centers, a rare skill that doesn’t always translate into the numbers voters seem to prioritize.
In the last five seasons, Adebayo’s performance in the DPOY voting has been strong but not quite enough to take home the award. He finished fifth in 2020, fourth in both 2021 and 2022, fifth again in 2023, and most recently third in 2024. Despite his consistent top-five finishes, the Miami Heat big man has always found himself edged out by players who may not offer the same versatility on defense.
Rudy Gobert, for example, secured his fourth DPOY award last season, becoming only the third player in NBA history to do so. However, Gobert’s defensive impact is largely restricted to the paint, whereas Adebayo’s defensive influence stretches far beyond that. Adebayo can guard on the perimeter, chase down smaller guards, and still protect the rim when needed—something very few other players, including Gobert, can do as effectively.
While Gobert’s dominance in the paint is undeniable, the modern NBA demands more from defenders, especially big men. The ability to switch onto smaller, quicker players and still make stops is becoming increasingly valuable, and Adebayo is a master at it. Yet, the media’s preference for traditional defensive metrics like blocks and steals has, in Adebayo’s view, kept him from receiving the recognition he deserves.
Adebayo’s performance speaks for itself, yet the media’s focus on outdated metrics may be the reason why he hasn’t won DPOY. As NBA offenses evolve, becoming more versatile and perimeter-oriented, defenders like Adebayo who can excel in multiple roles should be the standard, not the exception. The media, however, seems to remain fixated on defensive stats that don’t fully encapsulate a player’s true defensive value.
While Adebayo’s focus has always been on defense, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has ambitious plans to expand the big man’s offensive role in the upcoming season. After a disappointing first-round exit in the 2024 NBA playoffs, Spoelstra and his staff are looking for ways to make Adebayo even more integral to the team’s success.
One of those changes involves encouraging Adebayo to become more aggressive from beyond the arc. Despite being a traditional big man, Adebayo has shown flashes of 3-point shooting ability, and Spoelstra believes this could become a bigger part of his game.
“Some games, it might be 5/7 attempts, some games it might only be 2, but the fact he’s feeling more comfortable out there helps the versatility and diversity of our offense,” Spoelstra said.
Spo on Bam shooting 3s:”Some games, it might be 5/7 attempts, some games it might only be 2 but the fact he’s feeling more comfortable out there helps the versatility/diversity of our offense. “Bam: “I can still get to the elbow when we need one.” pic.twitter.com/yMX0QivMge— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) October 13, 2024
Adebayo shot 35.7% from deep last season, though he only attempted 0.6 three-pointers per game. The Heat are hoping that by increasing his volume, they can open up the floor even more and make Adebayo a threat from all areas of the court. If Adebayo can add a consistent outside shot to his game, it would only elevate his status as one of the most complete players in the league.
It’s clear that Adebayo feels slighted by the DPOY voting process, and it’s hard not to see his point. The criteria for the award, as it currently stands, seem to undervalue the versatility that has become so crucial in today’s NBA. While blocks and steals are important, they don’t tell the whole story of a player’s defensive impact—something Adebayo exemplifies.
Adebayo’s ability to guard all five positions is a unique skill that should carry more weight in the voting process. As the NBA continues to evolve, so too should the way we evaluate defensive greatness. Adebayo might not have the DPOY trophy on his shelf yet, but he’s undoubtedly one of the best defenders the league has to offer, and it’s time the media gave him the credit he deserves.
Comments