Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo said it’s disrespectful that he wasn’t named a finalist for NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Marcus Smart won the award to become the first guard to win it since Gary Payton in the 1995-96 season.
Adebayo finished fourth in the voting behind Smart, Mikal Bridges and Rudy Gobert. Check out his thoughts:
Bam Adebayo on not being a DPOY finalist: It’s disrespectful. I feel like I can do anything that two out of the three can do. I can’t teach height. All three play on TV more than me. They get more exposure. No one wants to talk about us. pic.twitter.com/bE7pVaZdjM
— Brendan Tobin (@Brendan_Tobin) April 18, 2022
Marcus Smart is the first guard to be named NBA Defensive Player of the Year since Gary Payton in the 1995-96 season. Smart is also the second player to win the award with the @celtics, joining Kevin Garnett (2007-08).
Full voting results pic.twitter.com/9WX2L25o4M
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 18, 2022
