Former Miami Heat captain and 20-year veteran Udonis Haslem invited top NBA insider Shams Charania on his most recent podcast. Haslem and Mike Miller co-host ‘The OGs Show’, and the podcast has quickly gained traction as one of the most entertaining ones out there.
Haslem and Charania went over several interesting topics, including the controversial snub of Bam Adebayo for the reigning Defensive Player of the Year award. Adebayo earned first-team All-Defensive honors and was a finalist for the award, eventually losing to Minnesota Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert.
Charania noted that he voted for Gobert over Adebayo, as the media is responsible for the voting of each NBA award. Haslem didn’t hold back in his disagreement:
“Who the f*** you know at the 5 that can start the game off on Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum. We started Bam on JB in one game, and JT in the playoffs. Name another 5 that does that.” (- Udonis Haslem via The OGs Show)
Gobert’s defensive skills have turned into liabilities over the last postseason. Although he can protect the rim as good as anyone, Gobert struggled to be effective on any sort of switches on the perimeter.
Haslem also added that he feels the Heat get overlooked, in their standing across the league as a contender and in individual awards, because they aren’t “sexy enough.”
“The last four or five years it’s been (Miami) or Boston,” Haslem said.
Adebayo has earned more respect over the years as a premier defender. His All-Defensive status followed with his impressive two-way efforts on an Olympic stage this summer is only going to help keep his status around the league continuously improve.
On top of being able to rim protect and guard positions 1-5 at an elite level, Adebayo has recently worked on adding a 3-point shot to his arsenal. He is coming off a season of averaging roughly 19 points and 10 rebounds on 52% shooting and a career-high 36% from deep.
