Bam Adebayo has a chip on his shoulder. It’s been there for years. And somehow, after six All-Defensive Team selections, a 20-10 season, and an 83-point game that nobody saw coming, that chip hasn’t gotten any smaller.
“I feel I do First Team things, but we take what we can get.”
That’s Adebayo on Friday night, after being named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team for the fifth time in his career (he has one First Team nod, in 2024). He finished eighth in voting among 100 media members. Ten voters put him on the first team. Fifty-one put him on the second. Thirty-nine left him off completely.
Thirty-nine.
Let that sink in.
Adebayo also became the first player in Miami Heat history to win the NBA’s Social Justice Champion award. He’ll receive the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar trophy and a $100,000 donation for the nonprofit of his choice.
He also averaged 20.1 points and 10 rebounds per game — joining Alonzo Mourning and Shaquille O’Neal as the only Heat players to ever do that.
And oh, by the way, he scored 83 points in a game on March 6 against Washington. The second-highest single-game total in NBA history.
And yet, somehow, there’s still a sense that Bam Adebayo doesn’t get his due.
Let me break down his historic season, his All-Defensive snub, his community impact, and why the Heat’s franchise cornerstone might be the most underappreciated superstar in the league.
The All-Defensive Snub: ‘I Feel I Do First Team Things’
Let me start with the honor that clearly bothers him.
Adebayo has now been named to an All-Defensive team in six of the last seven seasons. That’s remarkable consistency. He’s the only player in Heat franchise history to make one of the league’s All-Defensive teams in six different seasons while with Miami.
And yet, he’s only been on the First Team once (2024).
The 2026 First Team: Victor Wembanyama (unanimous), Chet Holmgren, Rudy Gobert, Ausar Thompson, Derrick White.
Those are great defenders. No argument there. But Adebayo finished eighth overall — behind Scottie Barnes and Cason Wallace, who joined him on the Second Team.
Thirty-nine voters left Adebayo off their ballots entirely.
Thirty-nine.
For a player who ranks in the 96th percentile for estimated defensive plus-minus. For a player who single-handedly anchored a Heat defense that, despite a late-season collapse, was top-10 for most of the year. For a player who can legitimately guard all five positions.
Adebayo didn’t say it with anger. He said it with resignation.
“It’s great to be back on the list. I feel I do First Team things, but we take what we can get. It’s good to be recognized for all the hard work I put in.”
That’s a classy response. But you can hear the subtext.
The Social Justice Champion: A Legacy Beyond Basketball
Let me talk about the award that truly matters.
Adebayo was named the winner of the 2026 NBA Social Justice Champion award. He beat out Harrison Barnes, Jaylen Brown, Tobias Harris, and Larry Nance Jr. — a strong group of finalists.
The league cited his commitment to educational equity, food security, and youth development in underserved communities across South Florida and North Carolina.
His 2025-26 initiatives included:
18 social justice-focused initiatives through his Bam Adebayo Foundation, investing more than $563,000.
Mattresses, uniforms, and school supplies for students at The SEED School of Miami.
Funding transportation for more than 19,000 students to attend the Miami Book Fair.
Large-scale holiday meal distributions addressing food insecurity.
An annual toy drive serving more than 2,000 children — watching them build “mountains of toys,” as he described it.
A renovated Heat-themed basketball court at Camillus House Homeless Shelter.
“I’m the first one in Heat history to get it. Feels good to be the first at something in franchise history. It shows the amount of work I’ve put into the community. I don’t expect awards for it. The award itself was seeing all those people have their lives changed. That’s the award.”
That’s not PR speak. That’s genuine.
The 83-Point Game: An Out-of-Body Experience
Let me take you back to March 6.
The Heat were playing the Washington Wizards. Nothing special about the opponent. Nothing special about the stakes. Then Bam Adebayo decided to rewrite the record books.
Eighty-three points.
Only Wilt Chamberlain (100) has ever scored more in an NBA game. Not Kobe (81). Not David Thompson (73). Not David Robinson (71). Not Elgin Baylor (71). Not Devin Booker (70). Not Michael Jordan (69). Not anyone.
Bam Adebayo — a 6-foot-9 center known more for his defense than his scoring — put up 83.
It was an out-of-body experience. He hit mid-range jumpers. He finished through contact. He stepped out and hit threes. He got to the free-throw line. He was unstoppable.
The game vaulted him into the 20-10 club for the first time in his career. He finished the season averaging 20.1 points and 10 rebounds — joining Alonzo Mourning and Shaquille O’Neal as the only Heat players to ever accomplish that feat.
When asked to summarize his season, Adebayo said:
“It was a great year. The 83 definitely helped [achieve] the 20 and 10 season. There’s still work to be done. I think of how far I’ve come in this league. I have so much more to give in this league and so much more to give to fans.”
The Defensive Metrics: Why the Snub Is Confusing
Let me give you the numbers that explain why Adebayo’s All-Defensive placement is head-scratching.
Adebayo ranked in the 96th percentile for estimated defensive plus-minus. That means his impact on defense per 100 possessions was elite — better than 96% of the league.
The Heat allowed 3.2 fewer points per 100 possessions when Adebayo was on the court compared to when he wasn’t.
He’s 6-foot-9, 255 pounds, and can guard every position on the court. He’s switched onto point guards, wings, and centers. He’s done it possession after possession, game after game, year after year.
And yet, 39 voters left him off their ballots entirely.
The Heat’s defense collapsed late in the season — going from 4th-ranked on March 12 to 28th-ranked over the final 15 games, finishing 14th overall. That likely hurt his case.
But that collapse wasn’t on Adebayo. He can’t guard all five positions at once. He can’t compensate for every breakdown.
The Heat’s Defensive Fall: Not Bam’s Fault
Let me address the elephant in the room.
Miami finished the regular season with the NBA’s 14th-ranked defensive rating. That’s the first time the Heat have finished outside the top 10 since the 2019-20 season.
That’s not good. But it’s also not entirely fair to pin on Adebayo.
The Heat were banged up. The rotation was inconsistent. The perimeter defense leaked. Adebayo was asked to do more than any one player should be asked to do.
He did it. He held the line. And he still ranked in the 96th percentile.
The Contract: A Franchise Cornerstone
Let me remind you of Adebayo’s commitment to Miami.
He signed a maximum extension during the 2024 offseason that keeps him under contract with the Heat through the 2028-29 season. He’s locked in. He’s not going anywhere.
“When you stack up my career, it’s not bad for a 14th pick.”
That’s humility. But it’s also understatement. He’s been a steal for the Heat since the moment they drafted him.
Final Verdict: Appreciate Bam While You Can
Here’s my honest take.
Bam Adebayo might never get the recognition he deserves. He’s not flashy. He’s not a social media star. He’s not a volume scorer who drops 40 every night.
But he’s a winner. He’s a defender. He’s a leader. He’s a community pillar.
Six All-Defensive teams. A 20-10 season. An 83-point game. The first Social Justice Champion in Heat history.
And he still feels underappreciated.
Maybe that’s the chip that keeps him motivated. Maybe that’s the fuel that drives him.
But one thing is clear: the Heat are lucky to have him. And the NBA should pay closer attention.
One thing’s certain: Bam Adebayo is not done proving people wrong. And that’s a scary thought for the rest of the league.