Are Miami Heat Stars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo Losing Defensive Star Power?

The Miami Heat's offseason was a big one, headlined by the franchise-changing addition of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. After months of rumors, they finally landed him to pair up with another franchise cornerstone, center Bam Adebayo. Together, the two are expected to be one of the scariest defensive frontcourt tandems in the league. However, it may not be viewed as such throughout the league.

Bleacher Report unveiled their latest list of the top 30 defenders in the NBA. The two Heat inclusions were most surprising as Antetokounmpo barely slotted inside the top 10 at No. 10 while Adebayo was way further down the list at No. 25.

Antetokounmpo, 31, is best known for what he can do on the offensive end but he has also established himself as one of the NBA's best defenders over the past decade. Even though he hasn't put up huge block numbers, the forward remains an effective rim protector at six-foot-11. Last season, Antetokounmpo held opponents to just 51.5 percent shooting at the basket.

His combination of size, strength and athleticism makes him a difficult matchup for opposing players, especially considering how much his body has developed as he has gotten older since entering the league as a skinny teenager out of Greece in 2013. The two-time MVP spent years playing alongside center Brook Lopez in Milwaukee, who has provided another strong defensive presence but Adebayo has been viewed as a better defender than the long-time veteran.

Adebayo, 29, is entering the first year of his three-year, $160 million extension. He has been one of the NBA's top defenders for years, earning multiple All-Defensive selections thanks to his ability to guard different positions. He can defend players on the perimeter, disrupt passing lanes and make an impact as a rim protector.

While he isn't known for being an elite shot blocker, Adebayo's versatility has made him one of the league's most valuable defensive players and him being rated at No. 25 is quite surprising for a player who has proven his worth for almost a decade.

The two should give the Heat the most formidable defensive frontcourt in the Eastern Conference as both players are more than capable of guarding different positions and taking on difficult defensive assignments. Their ability to support one another could make Miami's defense even more dangerous. These rankings could be tinkered heavily once the two big men show their strengths opposite one another.