'Paid to rebound': Adams on NBA career, longevity and LeBron James

There’s a good reason Steven Adams didn’t care exactly which team LeBron James landed with for next year’s NBA season.

After eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers, the 41-year-old four-time NBA champion and four-time MVP signed a two-year, US$8 million ($14m) deal with the Philadelphia 76ers for what shapes up as the final move of his illustrious career.

It was one of several big splashes the Eastern Conference side made, revamping their line-up for a run at the NBA title in the season ahead.

But while it looks good on the team sheet, Adams said names on paper meant little in the context of the game itself.

“You go there for whatever reason but, honestly, I don’t really care too much because it doesn’t necessarily matter in that sense,” the Houston Rockets’ Kiwi centre told the Herald.

“Just because you have to see how you are in the year. You have to come together. You know, even our team, we have to click, you know what I mean? Come together as a buy-in. New data comes out, do we have to change the play style? There’s a lot of other variables.

Steven Adams blocks a shot by New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson. Photo / AFP

“I mean it’s cool, but just for me, I’m just like whoever’s on the other team, cool. I have to worry about our team. Like, how we’re going to do. So, all good.

“I think it’s good that he got it done with though, because I think the commissioner just wanted to get the bloody schedule done, which I agree with because I want to tell the boys so then they can start booking their flights. Come over for a visit. So, I’m happy he’s done that, so thank you, LeBron. Thanks, mate.”

While the new season gives teams the chance to start fresh, it also offers players another chance to make their marks in what is widely regarded as the top level of the sport.

Adams only made 32 appearances for the Rockets last year, his second season with the franchise, because of an ankle injury that required surgery. It was the fewest games he had played in a season in his 12-year career to date.

However, his benefit to the team was evident as he was second on the roster in rebounds per game (8.6) behind young Turkish centre Alperen Sengun (8.9). He was also second in offensive rating (team’s points per 100 possessions) at 125 and equal fourth in defensive rating (opposition points per 100 possessions) at 112.

The Rockets run a balanced roster of young talents such as Sengun, Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith jnr, alongside league veterans like Adams, point guard Fred VanVleet – who missed all of last season because of injury – and former MVP Kevin Durant, and have made few new additions so far in free agency.

It means Adams takes on a mentoring role, something he was doing during his time in New Zealand as he hosted his annual camps and he had launched a strategic partnership with the New Zealand Warriors around a fundraising campaign.

“It’s still exciting competing at that level and seeing the growth throughout the year,” he said of his time with the Rockets.

Steven Adams made his NBA debut for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2013-14 season. Photo / Photosport

“Not just as an individual, bro, but as a team. You have to constantly change, seeing stuff click finally throughout the year, because it’s tough, ups and downs ... so, getting those at a consistent level, kind of mitigates the ups and downs a little bit.”

The 32-year-old has made a career for himself as, among other things, a strong interior defender, offensive rebounder and solid screen-setter.

So, when Rockets legend and one of the all-time great NBA post-scorers Hakeem Olajuwon comes to do some work with the team’s bigs, Adams joked that those sorts of sessions were not meant for him.

“He comes around and checks it out and all that, but that’s for the scoring guys, bro. I’m the rebound guy. I’m a rebound guy, mate. I get paid to rebound and set some screens and all that, so I just do my own film and all this sort of stuff. But yeah, I’ll jump on and have a little wiggle if he’s around.”

It’s that attitude of knowing his strengths, what he brings to the team and what his role is that has seen Adams have success as a more traditional big man in a league where those types of players have a harder time making their mark.

“I mean the game constantly changes, so you have to make strategic or tactical adjustments, personal ones. You try and stay in the league, but try and impact winning. That’s all I’ve been trying to do, just try and do the right things,” he said.

One of those things is to stay as healthy as possible – though that isn’t always something he can control.

For instance, the injury that ruled him out for the majority of last season was suffered when he landed on New Orleans Pelicans’ forward Zion Williamson’s foot after contesting a shot.

Houston Rockets centre Steven Adams is heading into his 13th season in the NBA. Photo / Dean Purcell

“I usually try and highlight any of the chronic damages that you could have over a career, try and mitigate those as much as possible. The acute injuries you can’t do too much [about]. Like, say mine, I landed on someone’s foot, it’s part of the game. Those are going to come from it. Those are fine, to be expected honestly. But as long as the rest of the body is relatively healthy, there’s no damage over time or very little damage over time, you know?

“That’s the main thing, staying healthy. You can try and do all this other stuff, bro, but if your body’s a bit messed up, it’s going to hinder you. I’ve just been highlighting that throughout my whole career.”

During his time in the NBA, Adams has been clear that he never had any expectations of what might follow when he declared for the NBA Draft in 2013.

Now, having established himself and heading into his 13th campaign, that outlook hasn’t changed.

“Yeah, I don’t know. I never had any expectations for how long. Like whether it’s in the league or not, I just love playing basketball,” he said.

“I’ve been looking after my body as much as I can, I mainly do it just for after basketball so I can still be functional and not move around too bad or whatever. So I’ve been doing it mainly for that. But I’ll cross that bridge when it comes.

“I’ll play as long as I can. I just love it, bro. The competition is so high. It’s such a rush. There’s nothing like it. You get to really get immediate feedback if you’re good enough to beat a team. It’s right there, you know what I mean? So, I’m a huge fan.”

Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.