Adams’ awkward response

As usual Steven Adams was at his most revealing when it came to himself at the Oklahoma City Thunder’s annual media day ahead of the looming NBA season.

The highlight of an otherwise run-of-themill appearance by the Thunder’s 25-year-old New Zealand centre came when a reporter asked him about his personality and whether what we saw around the team reflected the real Steven Adams.

Adams summed himself up as ‘‘an awkward Kiwi guy’’ in a response that gave the most intimate indication of the complex personality that hides behind the jokey exterior seen on a daily basis around the Thunder.

‘‘I’m quite an awkward guy,’’ said the

2.13m Kiwi who is set to earn US$24,157,304

(NZ$36.4m) this season. ‘‘It’s a weird situation, especially to ask someone how they personally act when they’re up on stage.

‘‘If you and me go have a beer, mate, it will be a different interaction just because of that. Sure, I’m just an awkward guy . . . let’s just leave it at that.’’

But the reporter didn’t want to. So he followed up by asking Adams how much of his unique character was about where’s he’s from. Is he just a typical New Zealander, personality wise?

‘‘Yeah, I think so, mate, just a normal Kiwi guy,’’ he responded. ‘‘Some stuff you guys laugh at, they [New Zealanders] won’t laugh at it there. It’s just different cultures, mate. You could just say I’m a Kiwi guy – an awkward Kiwi guy, mate. Keep it simple.’’

He’s an awkward Kiwi guy who is going to be central to any success the Thunder have this season as they forge on around their centre and superstar perimeter duo of Russell Westbrook and Paul George. Coach Billy Donovan made it clear that he again expects Adams to improve, despite coming off a career-best season (13.9 points, 9.0 rebounds,

63% FG) in 2017-18.

Training camp now begins, then preseason, before OKC tip off the real stuff on October 16 at Golden State.