MIAMI – With Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo in the midst of a dominant stretch in an effort to lead his team out of the play-in tournament, his name has always been mentioned as one of the NBA's premier defenders. Although Adebayo is reaching milestones for the Heat, Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) is an honor that has eluded him, with head coach Erik Spoelstra claiming to have won it this season.
While no one doubts Adebayo's elite defensive ability, there is likely a belief that San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wambenyama is the favorite. For Spoelstra, what helps garner recognition for various league honors is winning games, as he believes is the case for Adebayo, who sees it as a "two-man race" for DPOY.
With San Antonio finishing second in the West with a 47–17 record, Wembanyama's impact cannot be denied on both sides of the ball, especially on defense. Spoelstra believes it depends on "what flavor" one prefers, which makes the case for both defensive 'unicorns'.
"These next six weeks, if we can really defend the same way we've been defending the last month, I think it's a two-man race for Defensive Player of the Year. I think that's the flavor you have," Spoelstra told ClutchPoints.
Spoelstra continued, "They've won at an extremely high level, San Antonio, and their defense has consistently been a notch above our defense, but we're starting to catch them in that." "But it just depends on what flavor you like, a unicorn shot blocker that completely changes everything in the paint, or a unicorn one-through-five that no one can scheme in this league. And that performance, you know, has a real unique ability to impact the game defensively."
Erik Spoelstra was asked about Jaime Jacquez Jr.'s 6MOY chances and if winning has an impact, he would say he should be a winner and the conversation turns to the W.
I'll mention the same about Bam Adebayo and how it could be a two-man race for DPOY with Wembley. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/8ORCzHkhZu
- Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 10 March 2026
The Heat's Jaime Jacquez Jr. is also up for an award
Young Heat star Jaime Jaquez Jr. is another player who has improved and is primed for the award, as he has been one of the leading names for Sixth Man of the Year. However, the buzz and respect surrounding him has fluctuated, as after being the favorite in the early parts of the season, he is now behind a few names like Minnesota Timberwolves' Naz Reed and Houston Rockets' Reed Shepard, via BetMGM.
Now, with Miami hitting its stride and Jaquez continuing his impressive year after a sophomore slump last season, Spoelstra believes he should win the award, and wins are also a factor to consider.
“I think he should be Sixth Man of the Year,” Spoelsta told ClutchPoints. "I think when we were around .500, no one was paying attention, I think at the beginning of the year, everyone was talking about it. And my point for the team is, all of a sudden we're not winning at a high level, no one is paying attention to it, and other people are being cited for it. And then all of a sudden, we're just starting to win again."
“We're just not winning enough right now,” Spoelstra added. "But if we keep it going, I think they'll naturally get recognition for it."
At any rate, it remains to be seen whether Adebayo or Jacquez will win the awards they are in the running for, but the main goal is to continue winning games, as entering Tuesday's game against the Washington Wizards, the Heat are 36-29, in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
