The Rockets did not make much noise during free agency this summer, but will nevertheless count on a reinforcement of choices acquired last year: Steven Adams. Arriving last February, in exchange for Victor Oladipo in particular, the pivot has not yet put on the Texan tunic.
The former Thunder or Grizzlies executive gave up last season completely due to a knee injury, for which he had to undergo surgery. This summer, he was able to take advantage of the Texas facilities to gradually resume training.
According to the Houston Chroniclethe 31-year-old was not only allowed to fully participate in recent sessions with his teammates, but he was “ outstanding » during last week's matches.
This bodes well for a Houston team, whose squad seriously excites their owner, who hopes to turn a corner this season. One of the issues will be the use of the veteran, holder for a large majority of his career, behind Alperen Sengun. Better known for his qualities as a defender and screen setter, Steven Adams should be aligned with substitutes with an offensive profile.
“Free agent” at the end of the season
However, we imagine him less likely to have shared minutes with the Turk, who has become the conductor of the Rockets, but whose outside shooting is not sufficiently developed to imagine a two-pivot association.
We will still remember that Alperen Sengun is one of the most penalized players in the league in terms of fouls (3.3 on average), not far behind Steven Adams' former teammate in Memphis, Jaren Jackson Jr. Ime Udoka could thus naturally have recourse to its veteran.
But the Rockets coach has no shortage of options in his racket (Jabari Smith Jr, Jeff Green, Jock Landale, etc.), which is likely to complicate Steven Adams' task: obtaining a nice contract at the end of this season. At $12.6 million, he is the third highest paid player on the team.
| Steven Adams | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2013-14 | OKC | 81 | 15 | 50.3 | 0.0 | 58.1 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 4.1 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 3.3 |
| 2014-15 | OKC | 70 | 25 | 54.4 | 0.0 | 50.2 | 2.8 | 4.6 | 7.5 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 7.7 |
| 2015-16 | OKC | 80 | 25 | 61.3 | 0.0 | 58.2 | 2.7 | 3.9 | 6.7 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 8.0 |
| 2016-17 | OKC | 80 | 30 | 57.1 | 0.0 | 61.1 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 7.7 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 11.3 |
| 2017-18 | OKC | 76 | 33 | 62.9 | 0.0 | 55.9 | 5.1 | 4.0 | 9.0 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 13.9 |
| 2018-19 | OKC | 80 | 33 | 59.5 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 9.5 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 13.9 |
| 2019-20 | OKC | 63 | 27 | 59.2 | 33.3 | 58.2 | 3.3 | 6.0 | 9.3 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 10.9 |
| 2020-21 | NOP | 58 | 28 | 61.4 | 0.0 | 44.4 | 3.7 | 5.2 | 8.9 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 7.6 |
| 2021-22 | M.E.M. | 76 | 26 | 54.7 | 0.0 | 54.3 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 10.0 | 3.4 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 7.0 |
| 2022-23 | M.E.M. | 9 | 26 | 58.3 | 0.0 | 30.4 | 4.7 | 6.4 | 11.1 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 7.0 |
| Total | 673 | 27 | 58.7 | 7.1 | 54.5 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 8.0 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 9.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
