Heat’s Jimmy Butler named third-team All-NBA, Bam Adebayo misses out

Jimmy Butler made another statement about his place amid the league’s elite when the Miami Heat forward was named third-team All-NBA on Tuesday night.

But when it came to making a financial statement, teammate Bam Adebayo came up short, snubbed from a place on any of the three units.

Despite missing 20 games, half due to pandemic protocols, Butler was voted to the third team, matching his highest finish in the annual media balloting over his 10 seasons. Butler’s three previous All-NBA selections also were to the third team: in 2017 while with the Chicago Bulls; in 2018 with the Minnesota Timberwolves; and in 2020, after his first season with the Heat.

For Adebayo, there was no All-NBA nod, which meant no additional awards kicker to the five-year, $163 million extension the Heat center agreed to in November, a contract to kicks in at the start of next season. Had Adebayo been voted first-team All-NBA, the value of his extension would have increased to $196 million.

With the teams position-specific, being bypassed again left Adebayo without an All-NBA nod since entering the league in 2017-18. He finished fourth among centers in the All-NBA vote, well behind third-team center Rudy Gobert.

The voting for the three All-NBA teams concluded before the start off the playoffs, where the Heat were swept 4-0 by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.

Only five players over the Heat’s 33 seasons have been named first-team All-NBA: Tim Hardaway (1997), Alonzo Mourning (1999), Shaquille O’Neal (2005, ’06), Dwyane Wade (2009, ’10) and LeBron James (2011, ’12, ’13, ’14.).

Named from the Heat to previous All-NBA second teams were Hardaway (1998, ’99), Mourning (2000) and Wade (2005, ’06, ’11). Previously named from the Heat to All-NBA third teams were Wade (2007, ’12, ’13) and Butler in 2020, when the Heat advanced to the NBA Finals.

Butler this past season became the first Heat player to lead the league in steals (2.08) and also tied his career high with 11 double-figure rebounding games. He closed the season at .863 from the foul line, the third-best percentage in the Heat’s 33 seasons, behind only Ray Allen’s .886 in 2012-13 and Glen Rice’s .880 in 1993-94. In all, he led the Heat during the regular season in scoring 25 times, in assists 32 times and in rebounds 14 times. His All-NBA selection came after he was bypassed for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game.

Both Butler and Adebayo on Monday were named second-team NBA All-Defensive.

Butler received seven first-team votes for All-NBA, five more than LeBron James, who secured the second and final forward spots on the second team.

The Heat did not have a finalist this season for any of the NBA’s individual awards, with only Rookie of the Year yet to be named. The league also will soon announce its All-Rookie teams, with Heat 2020 first-round pick Precious Achiuwa a longshot for selection.

Named first-team All-NBA were Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic and Kawhi Leonard. Named to the second team were Chris Paul, Damian Lillard, Joel Embiid, Julius Randle and James. And named to the third team were  Kyrie Irving, Bradley Beal, Paul George, Gobert and Butler.

The All-NBA Team was selected by a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. Players were awarded five points for each vote to the All-NBA first team, three points for each vote to the second team and one point for each vote to the third team. Voters selected two guards, two forwards and one center for each team, choosing players at the position they play regularly. Players who received votes at multiple positions were slotted at the position where they received the most votes.