Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo had a hilarious reaction on social media after Haywood Highsmith’s agent – Jerry Dianis – took a shot at Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert.
Dianis said he believes Highsmith can be one of the best defensive players in the league in the future as he can cover multiple positions.
“Haywood will be a perennial defensive player going forward,” Dianis said. “What’s really special about him is his versatility. His size, strength and 7-foot-1 wingspan allow him to defend one through five. Rudy Gobert is the Defensive Player of the Year, but he can’t guard Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kyrie Irving or Paolo Banchero. Haywood does that, and it gives a Hall of Fame coach like Erik Spoelstra a huge advantage.”
Dianis’ comments prompted a post from Adebayo, who used a meme of Heat legend Shaquille O’Neal to show the agent some love.
— 13:00 Adebayo💥 (@Bam1of1) June 26, 2024
Gobert won his fourth Defensive Player of the Year in 2023-24, but he was exposed by Doncic in the Western Conference Finals in an isolation situation, leading to a game-winning shot by the Dallas Mavericks star.
This angle of Luka Doncic’s GAME WINNER is too COLD 🥶
(🎥 @bellikemike) image.twitter.com/bbGv2k5WCl
— Ahn Fire Digital (@AhnFireDigital) May 25, 2024
Adebayo, a five-time All-Defensive selection who has yet to win a Defensive Player of the Year award, may feel he has been overlooked for the award in the past in favor of Gobert. Adebayo has finished in the top five in Defensive Player of the Year voting in each of the past five seasons.
During the 2023-24 season, Adebayo averaged 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks per game and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Highsmith could be a key piece for the Heat going forward, especially if Miami ends up losing forward Caleb Martin in free agency.
Caleb Martin will decline his $7.1 million option with the Heat to enter unrestricted free agency, per @MikeAScotto (
Martin is expected to draw a lot of interest from teams in need of a starting scale wing. photo.twitter.com/6zvsZdCKp8
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 24, 2024
In the 2023-24 season, Highsmith appeared in 66 games for the Heat and averaged 6.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 39.6 percent from 3-point range.
“Haywood is a rising player,” Dianis said. “He is 27 years old and durable. He also guards the other team’s best player every night. Couple that with a 40 percent 3-point shooting percentage, and he’ll become one of the most sought-after 3-and-D players in free agency. He just wants to win championships.”
It appears that Highsmith has Adebayo in his corner as he looks to secure a new contract this offseason. Hopefully it’s a deal to stay in Miami and help Adebayo and the Heat chase a title this season.