The game acknowledges the play, with Nikola Jokic expressing lavish praise for Heat big man Bam Adebayo.
Thursday evening, heavyweight rematch between the two participants in the 2023 NBA Finals, the Denver Nuggets And Miami heat, took place. In an ideal world, the Heat would have their entire team trying to beat the team that beat them in the Finals. They were without Tyler Herro and Kevin Love, both injured. However, the Heat managed to stay competitive largely thanks to Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler en route to a 103-97 loss to the defending champion.
It’s always a treat to see the Heat try to rise to the occasion against a superior team. It’s their execution, unity and attention to detail that allows them to punch above their weight class. And for the Nuggets star and reigning Finals MVP Nikola Jokiche credits Adebayo with being the team support point on the defensive end, with the Heat center anchoring his team’s defense at such an elite level.
“I think he’s really effective in everything he does. He can guard 1 through 5. He’s the guy who sticks and the one who leads them. It’s always a pleasure to fight against him,” Jokic said, per Ryan Blackburn of Mile High Sports.
There is no better praise than that coming from the best player in the NBA. For Nikola Jokic, he loves nothing more than playing against the highest level of competition imaginable, and for the Heat, it will be music to their ears to learn that Bam Adebayo is one of the best players equipped with the NBA to try to slow down the Serbian superstar.
Heat fans would know how much Adebayo is disrespected in Defensive Player of the Year conversations, but for Jokic, he is able to recognize just how impactful the 26-year-old big man is. is really. Adebayo is the team’s Swiss Army knife on defense, sturdy enough to cover big men in the post while also being arguably the most mobile nominal center in the NBA when it comes to handling perimeter players.
Bam Adebayo’s presence ensures that the Heat team has such a high floor as they attempt to mount another deep playoff run.
About the Author
Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he is a very sports-traumatized person. He now writes about sport as a form of therapy.
