Adebayo grew to become a full-time starter through 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 high 5 in Defensive Participant of the Yr voting in every of the final 5 seasons. “He’s much different,” Spoelstra said about Adebayo’s comfort as a team leader. “He’s gotten more comfortable. And he’s accepted the responsibilities that are given as a leader … as any face of the franchise, as 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 need to do issues inside your character. He’s not going to steer in the identical approach as U.D. [Udonis Haslem], and that’s completely wonderful. Everyone within the locker room respects him and responds to him. I 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. Annually, he develops extra, and he makes extra of an affect.” -via New York Times / November 5, 2024
