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MIAMI — After a one-year absence, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo is back on an NBA All-Defensive team.
Bypassed last year after making one of the two teams the previous five seasons, Adebayo on Friday was named second-team All-Defensive.
Adebayo was named first-team All-Defensive in 2024, with second-team nods in 2020, ’21, ’22 and ’23.
The designation comes despite the Heat falling to 14th in defensive rating.
Adebayo finished in a tie for 11th place for 2026 NBA Defensive Player of the Year that went to San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, with Adebayo receiving just one third-place vote from the 100-member media panel.
Named first-team All-Defensive were Wembanyama, Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren, Detroit’s Ausar Thompson, Utah’s Rudy Gobert and Boston’s Derrick White.
Joining Adebayo on the second team were Toronto’s Scottie Barnes, Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels, New York’s OG Anunoby and Oklahoma City’s Cason Wallace.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra pushed Adebayo’s candidacy during the season, going as far as to compare Adebayo and Wembanyama.
“It just depends on what flavor you like,” Spoelstra said, “a unicorn shot blocker that totally changes everything in the paint or a unicorn one through five that can do any scheme in this league and is showcasing a real unique ability to impact the game defensively.”
Adebayo has never won Defensive Player of the Year, with Alonzo Mourning (1999, 2000) the lone recipient over the Heat’s 38 seasons.
The only players to be named first-team All-Defensive in Heat history have been LeBron James (2011, ’12, ’13), Mourning (1999, 2000) and Adebayo (2024).
Adebayo led the NBA in defensive rating in February, with a top-10 defensive rating in March, as part of a solid close to the season.
Still, Adebayo did not earn a Defensive Player of the Month honor this past season, with those Eastern Conference selections going to Barnes for October/November, Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart for December, Thomson for January, White for February, and Thompson again for March.
The Heat had a 110.4 defensive rating with Adebayo on the floor this season, a number that dropped to 115.8 when he was not on the court.
Adebayo closed the season with 86 steals, marking his fifth consecutive year with at least 80, becoming just the fourth player in franchise history to achieve the feat in at least five consecutive seasons, joining Dwyane Wade (10 straight, 2003-13), Grant Long (six straight, 1988-94) and Glen Rice (five straight, 1990-1995).
In addition, Adebayo is now just 35 rebounds from tying Udonis Haslem (5,791) for the Heat’s all-time record.
The defensive respect from teammates remains unceasing.
“He’s great defensively every single year,” teammate Tyler Herro said. “I mean, he’s the anchor. He’s been the anchor for our defense for the seven years that I’ve been here.”
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Bypassed last year after making one of the two teams the previous five seasons, Adebayo on Friday was named second-team All-Defensive.
Adebayo was named first-team All-Defensive in 2024, with second-team nods in 2020, ’21, ’22 and ’23.
The designation comes despite the Heat falling to 14th in defensive rating.
Adebayo finished in a tie for 11th place for 2026 NBA Defensive Player of the Year that went to San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, with Adebayo receiving just one third-place vote from the 100-member media panel.
Named first-team All-Defensive were Wembanyama, Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren, Detroit’s Ausar Thompson, Utah’s Rudy Gobert and Boston’s Derrick White.
Joining Adebayo on the second team were Toronto’s Scottie Barnes, Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels, New York’s OG Anunoby and Oklahoma City’s Cason Wallace.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra pushed Adebayo’s candidacy during the season, going as far as to compare Adebayo and Wembanyama.
“It just depends on what flavor you like,” Spoelstra said, “a unicorn shot blocker that totally changes everything in the paint or a unicorn one through five that can do any scheme in this league and is showcasing a real unique ability to impact the game defensively.”
Adebayo has never won Defensive Player of the Year, with Alonzo Mourning (1999, 2000) the lone recipient over the Heat’s 38 seasons.
The only players to be named first-team All-Defensive in Heat history have been LeBron James (2011, ’12, ’13), Mourning (1999, 2000) and Adebayo (2024).
Adebayo led the NBA in defensive rating in February, with a top-10 defensive rating in March, as part of a solid close to the season.
Still, Adebayo did not earn a Defensive Player of the Month honor this past season, with those Eastern Conference selections going to Barnes for October/November, Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart for December, Thomson for January, White for February, and Thompson again for March.
The Heat had a 110.4 defensive rating with Adebayo on the floor this season, a number that dropped to 115.8 when he was not on the court.
Adebayo closed the season with 86 steals, marking his fifth consecutive year with at least 80, becoming just the fourth player in franchise history to achieve the feat in at least five consecutive seasons, joining Dwyane Wade (10 straight, 2003-13), Grant Long (six straight, 1988-94) and Glen Rice (five straight, 1990-1995).
In addition, Adebayo is now just 35 rebounds from tying Udonis Haslem (5,791) for the Heat’s all-time record.
The defensive respect from teammates remains unceasing.
“He’s great defensively every single year,” teammate Tyler Herro said. “I mean, he’s the anchor. He’s been the anchor for our defense for the seven years that I’ve been here.”
Continue reading...
