Stan Van Gundy has set out to deflate the Miami Heat’s hype. While the arrival of Giannis Antetokounmpo boosted expectations —and rightfully so— the former coach of the Florida franchise from twenty years ago underscores that some players, like Bam Adebayo, may not be as exceptional as they’re portrayed.
Rather than offering a vote of confidence to the player and the team, the 67-year-old coach believes the optimism around the squad is excessive. He explains this during his appearance on the podcast The Zach Lowe Show (from The Ringer).
«I’m not as excited about Miami as people are… The shooting they’ve added to the roster seriously compromises them on the defensive end. Although last year was great, I’m not convinced by Davion Mitchell as the starting point guard… Honestly, I’d be surprised if they were in the top six… I’m not a fan of their roster.»
Stan Van Gundy is OUT on the Miami Heat and says Bam Adebayo is overrated 😳
“I’m not as high on Miami as people are… The shooting they added compromises them badly on the defensive end of the floor. Even though he was great last year, I’m not sold on Davion Mitchell as a full time starting PG… I’d actually be surprised if they were in the top 6… I’m not a fan of their roster. — I think Wiggins is underrated but I think Bam is a little overrated, particularly at the offensive end of the floor. I’m not sold on them”
Damn.
— Heat Central (@TheHeatCentral) October 15, 2026
And he continues to assess players until he concludes that Adebayo is less than he appears… «I think Wiggins is underrated, but Bam seems a bit overvalued, especially on the offensive end. They don’t convince me», he states.
Indeed, one can defend his stance, particularly when considering the Miami Heat as a whole. The leap forward with Giannis is enormous, but as we noted in our preview there are more factors to weigh before labeling them better or worse; and yes, the lack of a heavier, more proven point guard remains a recurring concern for Florida’s team.
