He also is averaging only 0.7 blocks per game, 50th of all players in the league.
Is Bam being labeled as a great defensive player on reputation alone?
He also is averaging only 0.7 blocks per game, 50th of all players in the league.
Is Bam being labeled as a great defensive player on reputation alone?
27 comments
Bam’s strength was never his rim protection, it’s that he’s a big man who isn’t a liability defending the perimeter. You’re missing what he’s good at.
It’s not the end all be all but he did finish 11th in defensive EPM.
Also if the only way a center can be considered a good defender is accumulating blocks he would have never had that reputation in the first place. His career average is 0.9 per game.
Bam was a great defender last year
He was not a great defender this year
Bam’s main defensive selling point has always been that’s he’s one of the most switchable players of all time. People sometimes think he’s more of a rim protector from his famous block on Tatum.
He’s not the starting center anymore. It’s Ware.
He wasnt even a center this year
Unrelated to Bam, but Beef Stew allowing 46% at the rim is insanely impressive for a 6 foot 8 center
He can switch on any player and size no matter the speed of said player. He’s not a great rim protector his defense is to not let you reach there
If you think Bam is labeled as a great defensive player on reputation alone, you don’t watch him play and just check the stats like average fans.
He doesn’t deserve DPOY that much is clear.
But he’s still unquestionably a great defender.
I’d guess the reason for this stat is because he’s switching so freely, which means he has more possessions where he’s taken off the dribble and forced to contest from behind.
Not to mention his team is full of dogshit perimeter defenders, which means there’s no one to help cover him the way you might cover for other big men (even the good defenders).
More a weird quirk of his defensive versatility and Miami’s roster than a sign of his defensive weakness.
This is basically what happens when you don’t watch somebody actually play and just go based on stats.
You come to the ludicrous assumption that Bam somehow is labeled a great defensive player strictly on reputation.
Curry is shooting 39% from 3 this year, meaning he misses more than he makes. I guess he’s a bad shooter then 🗿🗿
he’s not their starting center this season, and he never said he should be dpoy this season. why are you fighting ghosts you bum?
edit: he thinks jokic is a better defender than bam yall, don’t bother responding to him
He should’ve already won it tbf
Iverson averaged 2.5, 2.8, 2.7 SPG for 3 consecutive years. He must be the best defensive PG of all time.
holy fk u know ppl r idiots when they bring up this stat to say bam is an overrated defender
pls realize his biggest strength is not allowing ppl to get to the rim or even getting off a shot against him. but yes if they get good positioning off size or good passing he usually just let it go cuz he cant afford to pick up early fouls
everytime this shit gets brought up u can tell who never watches him play, also he hasnt started at center for half a season. at least look at a boxscore if ur just gonna be a stat watcher
Absolute casuals. They’re not shoving Bam in drop to protect the rim every possession because Bam is such a versatile AND elite defender. He can close out on any player, stay with the drive, smothering poa, and provide TIMELY rim protection.
If he didn’t win it the year Marcus Smart won it he is never going to win it
People don’t think you’re good unless it shows up on the stat sheet, what else is new
Bam is not a penter. He is a Power forward who was being forced to play the 5 because the Heat had no size.
His assignment isn’t rim protection.
Kel’el Ware is Miami’s starting center, not Bam.
If you knew basketball AT ALL you’d know this.
Bam was a great defender this year.
He’s undersized as a center and is more known for how versatile he is. The heat had just done a bad job of relying on him to be their center while being undersized. AD for example also does not like playing center.
He can switch h 1-5. That list includes him and AD and amen Thompson
He has a defensive reputation for a reason but he’s kidding himself if he thinks he’s DPOY worthy this year
“Darrel Revis only has 29 interceptions in his career is he only is he a great cornerback because of reputation alone?”
The Heat also have barely played any real centers the entire time Bam has been in the league and he’s constantly being expected to guard 1-5 out on the perimeter.
Hasnt one of the Heat fandom’s biggest points of contention this year outside of Jimmy obviously been Spo’s unwillingness to play Ware with Bam?
It’s a 5v5 game… It’s absolutely insane how people don’t grasp how important the team is to each player’s success.
Bam is phenomenal defender who’s been on a struggling team all year.
He doesn’t think he should be DPOY this year:
“[But in my case, we can’t really voice for it if we’re in the 10th spot. Now if we’re in the 3rd spot or 4th spot? You could say something.”](https://scoopb.com/2025/04/bam-adebayo-on-dpoy-snubs-olympic-lessons-newark-roots-the-fight-to-be-great/)”
You all gave OP 1.2k upvotes for bullshit. Good work, everyone.