Adams access denied

Basketball

Kiwi basketball fans won’t see much of Steven Adams on their television screens this NBA season. The high-profile departures of Adams’ former Oklahoma City Thunder superstar team-mates Russell Westbrook (to the Houston Rockets) and Paul George (Los Angeles Clippers) has had a detrimental effect with the broadcasters too. The 2019-20 NBA schedule was released yesterday and Adams’ rebuilding Thunder, who are tipped to struggle in the Western Conference, have paid the price with national television appearances. They have plummeted from 27 national TV games (ABC, ESPN, TNT) in 2018-19 to just three for the upcoming season. New Zealand hoops supporters will still be able to watch Adams and the Thunder, but will need to fork out for NBA League Pass. The Thunder open the 2019-20 season away to the Utah Jazz on October 23.