Basketball-reference’s MVP tracker is really fun in the beginning of the season. It’s still fun as the season goes on (can you believe we’re like a quarter of the way through already? madness…), but early on, you can always find random players on it. Devonte’ Graham was there right at the very start, but what was really cool was that Bam Adebayo was on it. Realistically, how could the award voters ignore a guy averaging 14/10/4/1/1 for one of the better teams in the East?
He’s not on it anymore, sadly. It looks like he’s been replaced as the “stat-stuffing all-around bigman on a good East team” player by Domantas Sabonis.
Adebayo’s MVP candidacy may be a long shot at this point, but he’s not going to let that affect his energy levels on the court. He’s not going to mope around wondering why no one likes him. He doesn’t need people to like him. His purpose is singular: help the Heat win basketball games. He’s been so impactful (note to English language purists who think “impactful” shouldn’t be a word: you can crawl back up to your ivory tower and die) for the Heat that I’m wondering if he’s actually the catalyst for their improved play this year rather than Jimmy Butler. It’s crazy that I would be thinking such a thing, but I am, and it’s only partially because of my dislike for Butler.
Actually, after further pondering, I’ve decided that Duncan Robinson is the true reason for the Heat’s success.