Heat legend omits Bam Adebayo from top 5 centers list ft. Domantas Sabonis to inspire struggling Miami star

Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem omitted Bam Adebayo from his list of the NBA's top five centers this season to inspire him to play harder. Adebayo gave his opinion on the league's top five big men on ESPN's "NBA Today" on Thursday.

When asked about his omission, the South Beach icon had a ready response.

"You know what Bam going to do when he sees this list? Play even harder," Haslem said.

Before starting his list, Haslem gave a brief disclaimer that availability was a major factor.

Haslem started with the Sacramento Kings' Domantas Sabonis in fifth, praising Sabonis for his dominance in the paint and calling him underappreciated.

Next, the three-time NBA champion tabbed the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama. Haslem praised the potential of the former No. 1 pick, saying that he could be the best player in the world after a few seasons in the league.

In third, the Heat icon named the New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns. He praised Towns for his growth in New York and his dominance in rebounding. He tackled the narrative of KAT being soft and credited him for imposing his strong playstyle in the paint and getting rebounds.

Haslem named Anthony Davis as the league's second-best center, praising the Lakers big man for being a threat on both sides of the court. He also expressed his surprise at AD never winning a Defensive Player of the Year honor.

Lastly, Haslem chose Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic as the NBA's best center. He noted that Jokic is second in the league in 3-point shooting percentage (47.1%), third in scoring (30.6 points per game), second in assists (6.5) and third in rebounding (13.2). He also expressed his surprise at Jokic being fourth in steals (1.8) given that the big man isn't known for his athleticism.

Miami Heat All-Star Tyler Herro praises Bam Adebayo for his leadership qualities

Miami Heat All-Star Tyler Herro praised his teammate Bam Adebayo for his leadership qualities. On Wednesday, Hot Hot Hoops reported on a recent conversation between Herro and ESPN's Marc J. Spears, tweeting Herro's quote praising Adebayo.

"We all lean on him. He has continued to carry us as a leader in the locker room and a voice. … He has always been that for us. The last couple of weeks, he has really stepped up in that regard. And just leading on the court, on both ends, being the anchor on defense and sticking with everything he is doing offensively."

Bam Adebayo is having a decent season, averaging 15.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. However, his scoring has fallen off compared to previous seasons. He averaged 19.3 ppg in 2023-24 and 20.4 ppg in 2022-23.

Nevertheless, Adebayo has been the supportive backbone for the Heat, especially with superstar Jimmy Butler on the verge of an uncertain future with the franchise.