Miami Heat of Erica fast-rising star, Bam Adebayo has been tipped to emerge the best defensive player in USA’s National Basketball Association (NBA) league this season, megasportsarena.com reports.
This is based on an analysis and expert opinion in a survey about the most promising players for the current campaign, and Adebayo’s name is resonating loudest among a long list of several top contenders.
Incidentally, the current best defensive player in the NBA, from last season is another Nigerian-born star, Giannis Adetokunbo (Antetokounmpo) of Milwaukee Bucks, who is again in top form, but Adebayo has been rated to take the edge this time.
The analysis by Sky Sports’ writer, Cameron Hogwood outlined a number of other contenders for this season’s prize, but one of his consultants, Mo Mooney gave the edge to the 23-year-old Nigerian-born lad, who had previously been runner-up for the NBA’s most improved player and was in the All-Star game last term, after excelling in The Heat’s road to the playoffs and Finals.
Hogwood noted in part: “Bam Adebayo played his way to a five-year contract extension last season as the man teammate Jimmy Butler hailed as the ‘heart and soul’ of the Miami Heat.
“The 23-year-old was runner-up for the Most Improved Player award and was named to the All-Star game for the first time in his career as he played a starring role on the Heat’s road to both the playoffs and the NBA Finals.
“Discussing candidates for this season’s individual accolades on Sky Sports’ Heatcheck, Mo Mooncey tipped Adebayo to beat out the likes of Anthony Davies and Rudy Gobert. He said: “I’m saying Bam Adebayo.
“I also think it’s Anthony Davis but I feel like Anthony Davis won’t play enough games. With his injury history and also the lack of rest, I know Bam has had a lack of rest but he hasn’t had all the injuries that Anthony Davies has had throughout his career.
“So, I feel like the Lakers are going to be more conservative with the minutes that they give to Anthony Davies and the number of games he plays as the season progresses.
“Whereas Bam is still younger than AD and he’s got that fiery energy. They’re going to need to rest Jimmy so Bam is going to have to carry a lot more.”
