Big pay rise changes nothing, says Adams

"There’s much bigger things we have to do and worry about other than ’oh I’m getting paid this much, I have to shoot this much’." Steven Adams

For Steven Adams the attitude remains steadfastly the same, even when the pay cheque takes a skyhigh hike.

The 24-year-old New Zealand basketball star has spoken out in the US media for the first time about the pressures that will inevitably accompany his new US$100 million (NZ$137.8M) four-year deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder that kicks in this season – his fifth in the NBA.

And it would not surprise anyone to hear that Adams doesn’t anticipate any mindset changes accompanying his upgraded salary which will make him the second highest player on the Thunder this season, despite the appearance for the first time of four-time All-star Paul George.

‘‘There’s much bigger things we have to do and worry about other than ‘oh I’m getting paid this much, I have to shoot this much,’ or whatever it is,’’ Adams told The Oklahoman newspaper when asked if his new pay deal factored into his expectations for himself this season.

‘‘Everyone’s goal is the main goal. You have to make any sort of sacrifice, anything you have to do for the team.

‘‘I might be wrong, mate, but that’s pretty much my mindset.’’

It’s an admirable, if predictable, approach from the big Kiwi who has never put his own stats or reputation ahead of what is best for the team.

He has forged a reputation in his four years with the Thunder of being a hard-working, effective and unselfish centre willing to do whatever it is his coach or teammates need from him. It earned him the superstar salary upgrade (Adams jumps from US$3.1M for the final year of his rookie contract, to US$22.4M for the 2017-18 season), so he is smart to retain the same approach.

But, of course, scrutiny is going to go up for the New Zealander this season, just as it did in the wake of his breakout playoff run in 2015-16 when he dominated Tim Duncan in a series victory over the San Antonio Spurs, and then helped the Thunder push the Golden State Warriors to the brink.

As The Oklahoman reported, Adams has shot up from the 39th highest-paid centre in the league to the eighth.

Despite his relatively modest numbers (he averaged a careerhigh 11.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists last season), he was recently named among both ESPN’S and Sports Illustrated‘s top 50 players in the entire NBA.

ESPN had him 46 and SI one place lower.

The theory is that this season, which tips off on October 19 when the Thunder host the New York Knicks, should allow Adams the same sort of space to operate inside he was afforded two seasons back when the presence of Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka occupied defenders on the perimeter.

This season George and new power forward signing Patrick Patterson are expected to draw a similar level of defensive attention, which could allow the Kiwi to showcase his offensive game.

The Thunder are building towards their four-game NBA preseason schedule that will include an October 8 matchup against the ANBL’S Melbourne United. just