Memphis Grizzlies player Steven Adams took a moment to reminisce about how he entered the NBA and what his expectations were when joining the league.
The towering center stands as one of the most respected figures in contemporary basketball, largely due to his amicable nature and fair play on the court. Interestingly, he admits that he never envisioned himself in the world’s premier basketball league.
“I simply entered my name in the draft, averaging around 6 points and 6 rebounds, and ended up being selected as the 12th pick. I didn’t have any expectations of making it to the NBA. Rick Carlisle was the only one honest with me. He asked me why I left college,” the New Zealand-born center recalled.
Steven Adams gotta be the most casual lottery pick all time…
— Steven Adams Stats (@funakistats) August 19, 2023
“Threw my name in the NBA draft – averaged 6 and 6 – and yeah, went number 12 bro… I was just there for the ride. I had no expectations of even making the NBA” pic.twitter.com/DW9pkyf6G0
Adams embarked on his professional career as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder before relocating to the “Music City,” where he continues to play. His journey is truly exceptional. As the youngest of 18 siblings, Adams faced adversity from an early age when his father passed away when he was only 13.
He began his basketball career in his home country of New Zealand, specifically with the Wellington Saints. He later moved to the United States to play college basketball for Pittsburgh. A year later, he entered the NBA draft.
Interestingly, Steven Adams has never represented his native New Zealand in international play. The reason behind this absence stems from the fact that the country’s basketball federation failed to meet the financial demands put forth by the towering center during his younger years.