Steven Adams’ hefty contract has again been called into question after the Oklahoma City Thunder crashed out in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
The big Kiwi and the Thunder were edged 104-102 in a thrilling game seven against former team-mates Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and the Houston Rockets on Wednesday (Thursday NZ time).
The Thunder drew up the final play of the game for forward Danilo Gallinari from the inbound pass, but he was double-teamed and unable to receive the ball. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander instead sent the ball into the briefly wide open Adams, who couldn’t control it under pressure from PJ Tucker. The Rockets deflected the ball away to run out the clock and clinch the series 4-3, advancing to play the top seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the second round.
Adams was solid, but unspectacular during the series, averaging 10.1 points and 11.6 rebounds across the seven games.
Against the small-ball Rockets, who started Tucker (1.96m) and Robert Covington (2.01m) as their bigs, it was hoped the 2.13m Adams would have had a greater impact on the series at both ends of the floor.
Adams earns US$26 million (NZ$38m) a season – the second highest on the Thunder – and whether his playoff performances matched that large contract is already generating debate.
Earlier this week The Ringer’s Ryen Russillo described Adams as “sneaky disappointing” and “soft”. He said Adams hadn’t imposed himself physically on the series as a player of his size should.
“Steven Adams’ usage rate, and sometimes it’s because of the lineups, but he gets a couple of touches early and then they never go to him,” Russillo said on The Bill Simmons Podcast.
