Adebayo grew to become a full-time starter throughout the 2019-20 season. Since then, Miami has two NBA Finals appearances and sports activities the NBA’s seventh-best win share in that point (.581). The 27-year-old Adebayo, who was drafted thirteenth in 2017, is the one participant within the NBA to complete prime 5 in Defensive Participant of the 12 months voting in every of the final 5 seasons. “He’s a lot completely different,” Spoelstra stated about Adebayo’s consolation as a workforce chief. “He’s gotten extra comfy. And he’s accepted the tasks which can be given as a frontrunner … as any face of the franchise, because the captain. And he is aware of he can’t do it simply by his actions. He additionally has to used his voice extra. And that’ll proceed to get higher. You must do issues inside your character. He’s not going to steer in the identical manner as U.D. [Udonis Haslem], and that’s completely superb. Everyone within the locker room respects him and responds to him. I really like seeing the expansion that he’s made. He’s in in all probability, what, his eighth season already? It’s going by so quick. Every year, he develops extra, and he makes extra of an influence.” -via New York Instances / November 5, 2024