Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo is irked that he hasn't won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award as of yet, though he's finished top five in the voting each of the past five years.

"I have to do all this and average 20, 10 and 5," Adebayo told Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports regarding his duties on both ends, which include playing lights-out defense.

"That's one thing that irks me, it's not my fault I'm versatile," Adebayo added. "I've been top five in DPOY voting the last five years, there's been guys y'all (media) been giving it to over me."

Adebayo made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for four straight years before earning a First Team spot this season. He also averaged 19.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists.

It's clear that the DPOY conversation Goodwill had with Adebayo may have been akin to kicking a hornet's nest for the Heat big man, who had more to say on the matter from Las Vegas, the home of Team USA men's basketball's Olympic training camp.

"A point guard (Marcus Smart) got it over me, a center (Rudy Gobert) got it over me, a power forward (Jaren Jackson Jr.) has gotten it over me," Adebayo told Goodwill. "The goalposts move for me, in certain degrees. It's me and a lot of undrafted dudes, and we still have a top-five defense.

"These other guys have All-NBA dudes (around them). Some of it is, they don't really care about us and that's fine. I think they should pay attention to consistency because being top five DPOY, I think I have the longest streak of All-Defensive teams, so the goalposts move for me."

Adebayo raises some good points.

First, he plays elite defense while being the No. 2 offensive option on his team (and sometimes No. 1 if Jimmy Butler is out).

Second, he stretches the floor and doesn't just guard opposing centers.

And third, while the Heat have made it a great habit of developing undrafted (or less heralded) talents, it isn't as if Miami is stacked with lottery players or elite stars around Adebayo.

Miami has also had, at worst, the No. 11 defensive rating in the NBA since Adebayo began making All-Defensive Teams, per Basketball-Reference. At best, the Heat have finished fifth in both 2021-22 and 2023-24.

Adebayo only turns 27 on July 18, so he's squarely in his prime and should have plenty of seasons to finally earn that DPOY award.

He's been knocking on the door for so long that, on one hand, it seems inevitable for him to walk through at some point. However, the emergence of rookie superstar Victor Wembanyama could also result in him forming a blockade against anyone else winning the award for years. Ultimately, though, Adebayo's points are noted.