Bam Adebayo, widely regarded as one of the NBA’s premier defenders, is facing unprecedented criticism this season for his inability to protect the rim effectively. Despite his reputation and consistent top-five finishes in Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) rankings over the last five years, Adebayo is defending the rim at an abysmal 70.6%—the worst among all qualifying centers in the league.
1. Bam Adebayo: 70.6% (113-160)
2. Nikola Vucevic: 69.6% (167-240)
3. Nikola Jokic: 69.2% (157-227)
4. Domantas Sabonis: 68.9% (144-209)
5. Karl-Anthony Towns: 67.9% (159-234)
6. Alexandre Sarr: 64.2% (181-282)
7. Jakob Poeltl: 64.1% (139-217)
8. Yves Missi: 63.9% (168-263)
9. Mason Plumlee: 61.8% (94-152)
10. Alperen Sengun: 61.6% (170-276)
This season, Adebayo has faced 160 contests at the rim, allowing 113 made field goals. For comparison, elite rim protectors like Victor Wembanyama and Jarrett Allen are holding opponents to 48.9% and 50%, respectively. Even centers not traditionally known for defense, such as Nikola Vucevic (69.6%), Karl-Anthony Towns (67.9%), and Domantas Sabonis (68.9%), are performing better in this critical area.
This statistical downturn is glaring and undercuts Adebayo’s public frustration over not being recognized as the league’s best defender. Last offseason, Adebayo openly criticized the DPOY voting process, lamenting how players from other positions—like point guards and forwards—had won the award over him. Ironically, his performance this season leaves little room for voters to consider him for the honor, given that his rim protection numbers lag far behind his peers.
These players are setting the standard for interior defense, and their effectiveness highlights just how far Adebayo has fallen. Even players like Nikola Jokic, known more for their offensive brilliance than defensive acumen, are outperforming Adebayo, with Jokic defending the rim at 69.2%.
Adebayo’s struggles stem from a combination of factors. His athleticism and versatility have always been his defining traits, allowing him to switch onto guards and wings while still protecting the paint. However, this season, the same versatility has become a double-edged sword.
The Miami Heat often deploys him in schemes that require him to guard on the perimeter, leaving him vulnerable to late rotations when contesting shots at the rim. Additionally, the Heat’s overall defensive structure—hampered by injuries and inconsistent performances—has exacerbated Adebayo’s shortcomings.
Offensively, Adebayo is also underwhelming. He’s averaging 16.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists while shooting a career-low 45.6% from the field and 28.7% from three-point range. This inefficiency is one of the worst statistical outputs in the last five years of his career, further complicating his case as one of the league’s elite big men.
The Miami Heat, sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference with a 20-18 record, are also feeling the ripple effects of Adebayo’s decline. While their offense has often relied on Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro, their defense—once anchored by Adebayo’s dominance—has been inconsistent, especially against teams with strong interior scoring.
For Adebayo, this season marks a pivotal moment in his career. His defensive struggles not only jeopardize his status as one of the league’s premier big men but also highlight the gap between his self-proclaimed defensive prowess and his current impact. Unless he can rediscover his form and lead Miami on both ends of the court, his candidacy for future DPOY honors—and the Heat’s championship aspirations—may remain out of reach.
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