Bam Adebayo crowned NBA's 'Best Defender' on social media

After about 650,000 entries were submitted, the results are in. Cue the drum roll

According to NBA X (formerly Twitter), Bam Adebayo is the best defender in the NBA. This is no surprise -- and yet it is surprising -- as contradictory as that sounds.

X account @NBA_university ran the poll to determine the lock-up king. This fun, analytically driven, engaging account shows a ton of love for up-and-coming players, highlights deserving underreported stars, and feels the pulse of the NBA community with polls.

With just under 200,000 followers, the @NBA_University polls have validity in terms of what the die-hard fans feel about the NBA product. With Adebayo racking up the most votes in this best defender poll, it's safe to say his PR skyrocketed after the Olympic run.

Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo has yet to win Defensive Player of the Year, but NBA observers may finally give him his flowers.

Though he deservedly is the best defender in the world, the untrained eye was still closed before Paris. Seeing Bam win this poll was surprising because you'd see X users downplay Adebayo's defense using typical counting stats like steals and blocks. Accounts like @NBA_university stress that steals and blocks don't always equate to good defense.

If a player is routinely out of position and gambling for those stats, they'll hurt the team more than aid it, even if they have five steals and five blocks. Bam is never out of position—he'll never sacrifice giving up baskets to chase stats.

Defensive juggernauts like Victor Wembanyama (Bam beat him in the semi-finals) usually get more love in these rankings than Bam due to their stats. See last year when he finished second over Bam for Defensive Player of the Year. But the casual fans' defensive third eye has been awakened, apparently.

It took seeing Bam effortlessly guarding anybody on any court at the Olympic level for certain fans to see his impact, even though he's been the defensive catalyst to two NBA Finals participations. Better late than never.

The media is still lagging behind in granting Bam what he's owed. He's still Defensive Player of the Year-less. It doesn't feel right to know that the most versatile and impactful bigs of this generation (Bam and Anthony Davis) have zero DPOYs, which doesn't tell the full story of this era.

Bam and AD matched up in this poll in the Finals because they're souped-up defensive tanks with abnormal agility for a big. With pace and space emphasized in this era, a big man who can guard in space takes your defense to another level in pivotal playoff spots.

Bam is elite on the perimeter, and AD is a top-five rim protector and plus switch defender. It's fitting that these Gold medal winners squared off to determine the winner of this poll. They're the ideal defensive bigs to cover space and still deter shots at the rim.

Based on his time at the Olympics, Bam's peers clearly respect him. Most fans have finally come around, realizing that his defensive versatility is the most impactful in the association. As soon as the media falls in line, there will be no question if Bam gets the love he deserves. He's getting that DPOY this year. The media is on notice.