(Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
Despite never winning the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award, it’s not a secret that Bam Adebayo has always been one of the league’s top defenders.
So, he’s an authorized voice when it comes to talking about the toughest players to guard.
With that in mind, Ashley Nicole Moss asked him precisely that, and his answer was somewhat surprising.
Instead of talking about the big men he usually faces, such as the likes of Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, or even Nikola Jokic, he included mostly perimeter players.
Adebayo chose Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, and LeBron James.
TOP 5 toughest players for Bam Adebayo to guard? Kevin Durant and LeBron James are there, but Nikola Jokic (or Julius Randle ) doesn’t make the list: pic.twitter.com/bsO68lwjMF
— Ashley Nicole Moss (@AshNicoleMoss) October 25, 2023
He stated that LeBron is still in the top five, which is fairly valid, as he drives to the rim at full steam like a bulldozer, and that hasn’t changed with time.
Notably, Adebayo is one of the few players who could guard one through five on any given night.
He knows a thing or two about getting stops on the perimeter, even against some of the guys he mentioned in this list.
Not many big men can step away from the paint and make an impact against smaller and quicker players in the way he does.
That’s why Heat fans and players have always taken offense at the fact that he’s never gotten the top distinction as a defender in the league.
Perhaps he’s going to have to work extra hard and make a statement against the guys he named to get more recognition.
The post NBA Star Reveals Top-5 Toughest Players To Guard appeared first on The Cold Wire.