Bam Adebayo, the Miami Heat's defensive stalwart, surprisingly missed out on an All-Defensive team selection for the first time in six years, despite being the backbone of the ninth-ranked defense in the NBA. This season, Adebayo received only one first-team vote and 16 second-place votes, finishing with 18 points in the voting. His notable absence from the list comes after consistent recognition over previous seasons, including a first-team selection last year.

The Heat's overall performance suffered with a disappointing 37-45 record, contributing to Adebayo's omission. His defensive metrics fell under the radar compared to other top defenders, leading to the selection of players like Draymond Green and Evan Mobley instead. This year marks only the third time in Adebayo's eight-season career that he has not been honored as an All-Defensive player. Miami's defensive rating dropped significantly from fifth last season, adding to the frustrations surrounding the team's year.