Steven Adams

Lore & Background

After playing one season with the Wellington Saints in New Zealand in 2011, Adams moved to the United States in 2012 to play college basketball for the University of Pittsburgh. He played for the Panthers for one season and was then selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the 12th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft. Following the 2013–14 season, Adams was named to NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In November 2020, after seven years in Oklahoma City, Adams was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans. In August 2021, he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, where he played until being traded to the Rockets in 2024. Adams is known for his physical strength.

Reader's Guide

Adams was born in Rotorua, New Zealand. His father, Sid Adams, was from Bristol, England and served in the Royal Navy. His mother, Lilika Ngauamo, was a nurse from Tonga. Adams is biracial.

Sid Adams stood 2.11 m tall. Two of Adams' half-sisters are athletes: Dame Valerie Adams is a dual Olympic gold medallist and four-time world champion shot-putter and Lisa Adams is a para athlete who has won gold at the Paralympics in shot-put. His brothers, Warren and Sid Jr., had careers in the New Zealand National Basketball League. Adams' sister, Gabriella Adams-Gavet, has played basketball for the New Zealand national team.

Sid Adams fathered a large number of children; the exact number is unclear. Lilika Ngauamo died of cancer in 2000. Sid Adams died of stomach cancer in 2007. After his father died, Adams left high school and joined a gang known as the Mongrel Mob.

Blossom Cameron rescued Adams from the streets of Rotorua and took him to Wellington. Cameron introduced him to basketball coach Kenny McFadden, who accepted Adams into his basketball academy, and Cameron enrolled him in Scots College. Adams graduated from Scots College in December 2011. He then enrolled at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, for one semester before enrolling at Pittsburgh in June 2012.

In his lone season at Pittsburgh, Adams started all 32 games and averaged 7.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. He declared for the NBA draft after the season. In 2011, Adams played for the Wellington Saints, averaging 5.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, and was named New Zealand NBL Rookie of the Year. He was selected 12th overall in the 2013 NBA draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In his NBA debut on 30 October 2013, Adams recorded two points, three rebounds, one assist and three fouls in 18½ minutes off the bench. On 12 April 2016, Adams had 17 points in a 102–98 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. On 31 October 2016, Adams signed a four-year, $100 million contract extension with the Thunder. On 9 December 2016, he scored 24 points in a 102–99 loss to the Houston Rockets.

On 1 December 2017, Adams scored a career-high 27 points in a 111–107 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. On 2 February 2018, he had 23 points and 12 rebounds in a 114–100 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, reaching 3,000 career points.