Marcus Smart, who recently became the first point guard since Gary Payton in 1996 to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, has taken offence to Bam Adebayo’s comments suggesting that he deserved the honour over Smart.
In an interview with Taylor Rooks, Adebayo claimed his ability to guard all five positions should have earned him back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards over Smart and Rudy Gobert.
However, Smart disagreed with Adebayo’s claim and responded to the comments during an appearance on ESPN’s NBA Today.
"Me and Bam both know that's a lie."
Marcus Smart had some HEAT for Bam Adebayo about last year's DPOY 🔥
(via @malika_andrews) pic.twitter.com/Qwyv3U0CUz
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 1, 2023
“Bam, c’mon now,” Smart said. “Bam’s a good friend of mine but me and Bam both know that’s a lie,” he said. “The things I was doing at that time at my size was different. Last time I recalled, Bam, I blocked your dunk as well. So that should tell you everything you need to know right there.”
Adebayo has finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in each of the past two seasons, and currently has the fourth best odds (+800) to win it this year, behind Jaren Jackson (-160), Brook Lopez (+500) and Nic Claxton (+700).
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