Bam Adebayo and the trophy for best defender of the year, it's a long story of frustration. For five seasons, the Miami interior has been in the Top 5 of the votes, but never higher than the 3rd place…
This season, he was once again overtaken by Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama. Something he is having a hard time digesting.
“When you talk about versatility and a player who weighs on both ends of the court… It's a crime that he didn't win a Defender of the Year award, just for visual impact.” considers Caron Butler. “I know statistically you can look at a lot of data but he's also in the Top 5 in those categories.”
You have to be ready to challenge the Florida pivot
For Erik Spoelstra's assistant, the best argument in favor of Bam Adebayo in the race for the “DPOY” is the work demanded of opponents.
“When you come to the game and you see what he does, how hard opponents have to work against him, the calories burned to shoot against Bam… From the guards, the 1, 2 and 3, all the way to the 4 and 5. Nothing is easy (against him). You have to prepare yourself with a high-calorie lunch, grapes, electrolytes and everything you need if you’re going to play Bam.” he jokes. “Because he is different.”
“Lastly, it’s hard to name a guy, from LeBron James and everybody who was on the Olympic team, to the guys on our team, that doesn’t want to play with him. Because he cares about what’s important. And I mean, he’s a winner. At his core, he’s just a winner.” concludes Caron Butler.
| Bam Adebayo | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | MIA | 69 | 20 | 51.2 | 0.0 | 72.1 | 1.7 | 3.8 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 6.9 |
| 2018-19 | MIA | 82 | 23 | 57.6 | 20.0 | 73.5 | 2.0 | 5.3 | 7.3 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 8.9 |
| 2019-20 | MIA | 72 | 34 | 55.7 | 14.3 | 69.1 | 2.4 | 7.8 | 10.2 | 5.1 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 15.9 |
| 2020-21 | MIA | 64 | 34 | 57.0 | 25.0 | 79.9 | 2.2 | 6.7 | 9.0 | 5.4 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 18.7 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 56 | 33 | 55.7 | 0.0 | 75.3 | 2.5 | 7.6 | 10.1 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 19.1 |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 75 | 35 | 54.0 | 8.3 | 80.6 | 2.5 | 6.7 | 9.2 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 20.4 |
| 2023-24 | MIA | 71 | 34 | 52.1 | 35.7 | 75.5 | 2.2 | 8.1 | 10.4 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 19.3 |
| Total | 489 | 30 | 54.7 | 22.1 | 75.5 | 2.2 | 6.5 | 8.7 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 15.4 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
