I wrote a week ago that — based off the NBA media figures who had already released their picks for Defensive Player of the Year — Bam Adebayo appeared to be an underdog to win the award. Now we know that Adebayo did not finish in the top three for the award, just as what happened last season.
On the other hand, Tyler Herro was a finalist for the Sixth Man of the Year, and Erik Spoelstra is a finalist for Coach of the Year.
Spoelstra said that he was “stunned” Adebayo is not a finalist.