Heat's Erik Spoelstra Makes Case for Bam Adebayo as DPOY Over Wembanyama

Spoelstra believes Adebayo and Wembanyama are in a 'two-man race' for Defensive Player of the Year award.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has made a strong case for his star player Bam Adebayo to win the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award over San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama. Spoelstra believes it's a 'two-man race' between the two defensive 'unicorns', with Adebayo's impact on both ends of the floor giving him an edge. The coach also praised young Heat player Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s chances of winning Sixth Man of the Year, saying his chances improve as the team continues to win games.

Why it matters

The DPOY award is one of the most prestigious individual honors in the NBA, and Adebayo's potential win would be a major accomplishment for the Heat franchise. Spoelstra's comments highlight the intense competition between Adebayo and Wembanyama, two of the league's elite defensive players. Additionally, Jaquez's potential Sixth Man of the Year award would further validate the Heat's strong development of young talent.

The details

Adebayo has been a dominant defensive force for the Heat this season, leading the team's resurgence after a slow start. Meanwhile, Wembanyama has also been a defensive standout, anchoring the Spurs' second-best defense in the league. Spoelstra believes the award could come down to 'whatever flavor' voters prefer - Wembanyama's elite shot-blocking or Adebayo's versatility in guarding any position. The coach also noted that Jaquez's Sixth Man of the Year candidacy has fluctuated with the Heat's win-loss record, but believes he should win the award if the team continues its recent winning ways.

  • The Heat are currently 36-29, seventh in the Eastern Conference, heading into a game against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.
  • The NBA regular season ends in early April, with the DPOY and Sixth Man of the Year awards typically announced shortly after.

The players

Bam Adebayo

A star player for the Miami Heat known for his elite defensive abilities and versatility in guarding multiple positions.

Victor Wembanyama

A highly touted rookie for the San Antonio Spurs, considered one of the favorites to win the Defensive Player of the Year award this season.

Jaime Jaquez Jr.

A young player for the Miami Heat who has emerged as a leading candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award.

Erik Spoelstra

The head coach of the Miami Heat, who is making the case for his players to win major individual awards.

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What they’re saying

“These next six weeks, if we can really defend the way we've been defending the last month, then I think it's a two-man race in the Defensive Player of the Year. I think it's just whatever flavor you like.”

— Erik Spoelstra, Head Coach, Miami Heat (ClutchPoints)

“They've won at an extremely high level, San Antonio, and their defense has been consistently a notch above ours, but we're starting to catch them in that. But it just depends on what flavor you like, a unicorn shot blocker that totally changes everything in the paint, or a unicorn one-through-five that can do any scheme in this league. And this showcasing, you know, real unique ability to impact the game defensively.”

— Erik Spoelstra, Head Coach, Miami Heat (ClutchPoints)

“I think he should be the sixth man of the year. I think when we're middling around at around .500, nobody was paying attention, I think beginning of the year, everybody was talking about it. And my point to the team, all of a sudden we're not winning at a high level, nobody's paying attention to it, and there's other guys being mentioned for that. And then all of a sudden, we're starting to win again right now.”

— Erik Spoelstra, Head Coach, Miami Heat (ClutchPoints)

What’s next

The NBA regular season ends in early April, with the DPOY and Sixth Man of the Year awards typically announced shortly after. The final stretch of the season will be crucial for Adebayo and Jaquez's award chances, as Spoelstra believes winning games is key to getting recognition.

The takeaway

Spoelstra's comments highlight the intense competition between two of the NBA's elite defensive players, Bam Adebayo and Victor Wembanyama, for the coveted Defensive Player of the Year award. The coach's belief that it's a 'two-man race' between the two 'unicorns' showcases Adebayo's defensive impact, while also praising the young talent of Jaime Jaquez Jr. and the importance of winning games for individual accolades.