Every season the draft brings a fresh infusion of talent to the NBA. In theory this is an even, steady process. In practice, hindsight and historical perspective show that there are borders and boundaries — talent doesn’t just arrive in the NBA, it arrives in generational waves. Sometimes we can’t see these aesthetic dividing lines for decades, sometimes you simply can’t miss them.
The present day NBA appears to be on the cusp of welcoming a remarkable new generation to its forefront — players who are not just incredible but incredibly unique. Players who will not just excel but transform the roles and responsibilities of basketball players as we understand them. Over the course of this week, The Step Back will be examining many of the players who could figure prominently in The Next Generation. Not every player we turn our attention to is destined to be a star, but all could play a role in defining the future of the NBA. Read the whole series here.
The Next Generation: Steven Adams
Steven Adams will be inevitably intertwined with James Harden for the duration of his career. Remaining as the sole formidable piece from a blockbuster deal involving a perennial MVP candidate is a heavy burden to bear, but Adams’ laissez-faire demeanor allows him to carry the weight effortlessly.
Adams has been a perfect fit with the Thunder since entering the league in 2013. The New Zealand native came into the league as a raw, wide-eyed project who just happened to plop down in an ideal scenario — surrounded by bonafide superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. He was not expected to jump right in and produce, but he immediately began to soak up knowledge and feel for the game from veteran Kendrick Perkins.
Adams is in his fourth season and he’s continuing to bulk up his game after a breakout performance in the 2016 playoffs. Through 62 games this season he’s putting up career bests in points, rebounds, offensive rebounds, steals, assists, free throws attempted/made, free throw percentage and field goals attempted/made — and he’s still just 23-years-old.
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More importantly than any statistics, the 7-foot Kiwi is the heart and soul of this Oklahoma City squad. Westbrook is very clearly the alpha, however, with Adams matching his fierceness he’s quickly rising through the ranks in terms of how valuable he is to this franchise.
Adams is a rough-and-tumble, humorous, competitive, stocky, crafty and brute force all wrapped into one blossoming talent. He appreciates a good laugh off the court, but when the time comes to pound the rock, he’s all business. Adams really is everything a fan could ever want.
Growing up in Rotorua as the youngest of 18 children was no easy task. Hell, just fighting for a bite to eat becomes cumbersome when batting 17 older siblings. Around age 13, his father, Sid, passed away from stomach cancer and the hurt from his loss caused Adams to spiral out of control for a short time. Eventually his knack for making trouble put him in contact with a gang called the Mongrel Mob — an organized crime syndicate who have been around since the 1960s.
Imagine a 13-year-old kid who has battled older siblings all his life, who has just lost his father to cancer and is now wrapped up with legitimate organized gangsters. It sounds like the genesis of an epic tale of perseverance and triumph. Luckily we all get to be a part of it. Adams is a reincarnation of a likable Bill Laimbeer. The latter was a hell of a player who nobody expected to reach the peaks he was able to, and Adams plays with the same chip on his shoulder. But with Adams it feels warranted whereas with Laimbeer some despised him for it.
Now with his unending determination and invisible superpowers, Adams is morphing into a throwback center. With unicorns standing out from the crowd as the hot button in today’s NBA, he is comfortable cutting through the wake of those who have come before him and finding his own lane. In a season where one of the league’s top 5s has taken over 300 3-pointers, Adams has a grand total of four 3s attempted for his career, and he has still yet to hit his first.
With the departure of the franchise’s pillar this offseason, Adams was tasked with assuming a larger role in the Oklahoma City offensive attack. He’s largely stepped up and delivered with averages of 11.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks through three quarters of the season. After some trade deadline movement by Sam Presti, their 7-foot immovable presence can start to assemble a new Mongrel Mob — one which aims to band together to contend for an NBA championship.
Oklahoma City retained a new pillar to build upon in Westbrook and while he shoulders the lion’s share of production for the team, Adams and his new Mob will fortify their defense and new identity.
Westbrook walks, talks and plays with an air of I-don’t-give-a-shit just seeping from his pores. Adams possesses the same qualities but is more introverted in his expression. He is charged with recruiting Andre Roberson and Taj Gibson as the two newest members of the Mob. One does not simply associate with or be inducted into such a fraternity by merely being on the roster or showing up to work. It takes time. Respect. Hard work. And most of all, balls.
Roberson showed his brash nature when Durant returned to Oklahoma City and the two got into a mini scuffle. Not only did he not back down from Durant, but after the game had a little extra shade to toss in the fire saying, “His decision he made kinda didn’t sit right with me.” Clearly Roberson is going through the initiation phase to join the Mob.
Each of us innately drag our past with us as we venture into the uncharted territory that is the future. Adams is still a young, developing player who looks like he will only improve as his career goes on. The struggles he had to deal with as a young man will always be a part of who he is, but instead of letting them pull him down he is using them as strengths to push forward and make his own way.
The Thunder might not contend for an NBA championship this season, but Adams is recruiting new members to his own Mongrel Mob and the rest of the league needs to wise up.