New Zealand Center Signs Extension with the Rockets
Throughout his entire career, New Zealand center Steven Adams has been a defensive force in the league. He has not found the same success over the past two seasons as he underwent season-ending surgery on his right knee during he 2022-2023 season with the Memphis Grizzlies, further instability caused him to miss the entire 2023-2024 NBA season. He was then traded to the Houston Rockets. Even though he played in October with the Rockets, he did not fully recover from his PCL surgery until January. Though he played in 58 games, he helped be a part of a growing Houston Rockets squad that finished second in the Western Conference with 52 wins. Although the Golden State Warriors upset the Rockets in seven games, the Rockets built a core with hopeful playoff appearances for the near future. After the first round upset, Adams became a free agent. Today, it was announced by Shams Charania that the 31-year-old center signed a three-year deal with the Rockets worth $39 million.
Adams was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder as the 12th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. His production really started to pick up after his rookie season, and by the time the 2017-2018 NBA season came about, Adams had already been a multi-year starter playing in 76 games, averaging about 14 points, nine rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a block a game. A few years later, the New Zealand center was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans. He signed a two-year contract extension as part of the deal. Just a season later, Adams was once again traded, this time to the Memphis Grizzlies. While his first season in Memphis was a huge success, his 42 games with the Grizzlies during the 2022-2023 NBA season were cut short by his PCL injury. He then missed the entire 2023-2024 season and was on the move again to the Houston Rockets in a package involving Victor Oladipo and three second-round picks. The New Zealand big man played 16 more games this past season with the Rockets and helped this team build some kind of identity, finishing with their 52 wins and second in the Western Conference under head coach Ime Udoka.
In 14 minutes a game, Adams averaged about four points, six rebounds, an assist, and a block. In 58 games played, the New Zealand center had just three starts. During the Rockets' Game Six victory over the Warriors, Adams recorded 17 points in 31 minutes to help Houston tie up the series at three games apiece. On March 10th, Adams put up 11 points and 17 rebounds in 23 minutes of gameplay in a win over the Orlando Magic. Back with the Rockets for next season, the New Zealand big man hopes to put his career back on track and go back to the playoffs.
