- Bam Adebayo is guaranteed a roster spot on Team USA’s 2024 Olympics squad
- Adebayo is considered by some to be the best defender in the league
- The big man’s complementary skill set makes him a good fit with other stars
Big man Bam Adebayo is one of the best defensive players in the NBA, and he has been the anchor of the Miami Heat defense for two Finals runs. Adebayo’s skill set is extremely valuable in the modern NBA, as being able to comfortably guard all five positions is a truly rare ability.
On the international stage, Adebayo won an Olympic gold medal in the 2020 Olympics with Team USA. It seems as though he is guaranteed a spot on the 2024 team, despite several elite players at his position such as Joel Embiid committing to join the team.
“For those wondering about Bam Adebayo’s USA Basketball status, as we have previously reported, he’s committed to a spot on the 12-man roster. He will be on the Olympic team — assuming health, etc., etc. It’s that simple.”
For those wondering about Bam Adebayo's USA Basketball status, as we have previously reported, he's committed to a spot on the 12-man roster. He will be on the Olympic team — assuming health, etc., etc. It's that simple.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) October 5, 2023
It is clear that Team USA values what Bam Adebayo brings in terms of defense and intangibles. He isn’t a ball-dominant player, which is obviously an elite trait to have when playing with many other stars.
This past season, Bam Adebayo averaged 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game with the Heat. It will be interesting to see if he makes a leap with the team this season, and if he does, he could easily become an All-NBA player.
Bam Adebayo Has A Case As The Best Defender In The League
Even though Bam Adebayo doesn’t put up the most gaudy defensive numbers, his impact on that end of the floor is very apparent when one tunes into Heat games. In fact, Erik Spoelstra believes that Bam Adebayo has been the best defender in the league for the last few years.
“He’s arguably been the best defender in the league now for a handful of years,” Spoelstra said. “He doesn’t necessarily get acknowledged for that because he’s not putting up the big shot blocking numbers or whatever metrics they look at.”
Adebayo is definitely one of the players that doesn’t get enough respect from analysts and fans. He is perennially a DPOY candidate and seems like a lock to win at some point in the future. Hopefully, we see the big man get more recognition in the future. As long as the Miami Heat are contending, then Adebayo’s stardom will continue to rise.
Bam Adebayo’s Complementary Skills Will Be Useful On Team USA
Due to his being brought up through the Miami Heat development system, Adebayo is comfortable playing a limited role. He is a quality pick-and-roll player, a decent lob threat, and has passing ability. The key is Adebayo not needing the ball in his hands to be effective, which is why Team USA wants him on the squad to try and help the team repeat as Olympic gold medalists.
We will see if Bam Adebayo ends up starting for Team USA next season, or whether it will be another elite big man such as Joel Embiid. Fit is important when it comes to international basketball, and though Adebayo is typically considered worse than Embiid, he might be a better fit with the starting lineup.
Team USA clearly has a lot of talent committed to playing in the 2024 Olympics, and there is no excuse for them not to get the gold medal. Hopefully, Adebayo can help them with that, and we’ll see what happens in the future.
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