(Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
While he wasn’t close to winning the award, Miami Heat big Bam Adebayo did receive some recognition for the individual award he most covets.
On Monday, the league announced the winner of the Defensive Player of the Year. San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama became the first player in league history to win the award unanimously, though Adebayo was one of four players to receive one third-place vote.
Here’s how the third-place votes were tallied:
Chet Holmgren, Thunder (second place) — 11
Ausar Thompson, Pistons (third place) – 33
Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves – 29
Scottie Barnes, Raptors – 12
Derrick White, Celtics – 7
Cason Wallace, Thunder – 2
Amen Thompson, Rockets – 0 (he had two second-place votes, however)
Dyson Daniels, Hawks – 2
OG Anunoby, Knicks – 1
Jalen Duren, Pistons – 1
Draymond Green, Warriors – 1
Bam Adebayo, Heat — 1
Victor Wembanyama is the first unanimous Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year since the award’s inception in 1982-83.
The winner was selected by a global media panel of 100 voters.
Complete voting results ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/wIUDEDWJtm
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 20, 2026
Adebayo was never in real contention to win the award, especially after the Heat’s defense cratered over the last month. That issue wasn’t his undoing, but that will unquestionably dock one’s resume when it comes to splitting hairs for any sort of award centered around defense.
The Heat’s star was the first big in over two decades to average 20.0 points and 10.0 rebounds — nearly tallying that on the dot. Adebayo shot 44.2 percent from the floor, 31.8 percent from 3-point range and 77.8 percent from the free-throw line.
He was still outstanding defensively. He remained incredibly scheme-versatile, excelling in myriad coverages — even when the Heat went to zone. Four of their five-best defensive lineups included him on the floor; their defensive rating with Adebayo on the floor was a 112.5 (79th percentile), compared to 117.9 when he wasn’t (38th percentile).
The All-Defensive teams won’t be announced until a later date. Adebayo has finished on the All-Defensive second team four times and the first team once — which came in 2023-24.
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