All-NBA selections carry weight for Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo

MIAMI – Bam Adebayo appreciated his Tuesday moment, when he was named first-team NBA All-Defensive for the first time in his seven-year career. The goal for the Miami Heat’s center, however, is to also be recognized on nights like Wednesday, with the league unveiling its 2024 All-NBA teams ahead of the start of the Western Conference finals.

Pigeonholed to this stage of his career as a defensive specialist, Adebayo said the hope is he eventually is recognized for more than the unique defensive skill set that had been his NBA takeoff point.

“I feel like coming into the league, that’s what I was,” he said. “But obviously if you’ve checked my numbers and you’ve seen us play, you’ve seen me grown into a two-way player.

“So I don’t necessarily say pigeonholed, I just know in a lot of the biggest moments I’ve had offense, I’ve had a couple. But I know on defense, I’ve had a lot. I feel like for me, I’m really a two-way player rather than just getting  pigeonholed into, ‘He’s a great defender.’ ”

Among the reasons Adebayo was keeping an eye on Wednesday night’s All-NBA selections is such a selection triggering the opportunity for a supermax extension this summer.

For Adebayo, it is simple math; for the Heat, a bit more complex.

With an All-NBA selection, Adebayo becomes eligible for a  four-year, $245 million extension in July. Without one, his eligibility is limited to a three-year $165 million extension.

For the Heat, amid the team’s luxury-tax and salary-cap concerns, a max extension for Adebayo would begin with a $51.2 million salary for 2026-27. Otherwise, he would have a $39.1 million cap hold in place for that season.

As for the opportunity to show the diversity of his game on both ends, Adebayo said it is a matter of the team concepts flowing on both ends under coach Erik Spoelstra.