Adams’ NBA tilt ‘for family’
Sam Worthington Nineteen is young to take on the burden as family provider.
But then Steve Adams is your average 19-year-old.
The 2.13-metre giant, with an even larger personality, says there is an easy explanation for his basketball U-turn, declaring for the 2013 NBA draft instead of returning for a second year at the University of Pittsburgh.
Adams came home from the United States to see his family in Rotorua and didn’t like what he found.
‘‘I don’t like seeing them struggle; it’s quite sad to see your family struggle,’’ said Adams, who is now back under Kenny McFadden’s wing for a training stint in Wellington.
‘‘I don’t want to see more.’’
So, all going well, Adams will live up to his first-round billing in June and be drafted by an NBA team.
That would mean an initial $1.3 million salary, which should be enough to put food on the table.
Adams is vague about which family members he wants to help.
His father Sid died when he was 13 and his mother wasn’t around much.
Adams is reportedly the youngest of Sid’s 18 children by five women, and double Olympic shotput champion Valerie is a halfsister.
He was rescued from Rotorua gang life in 2008 by half-brother Warren, and moved to Wellington to live with caregiver and ‘‘fairy godmother,’’ Blossom Cameron. And now he wants to give back. ‘‘I went back to Rotorua and talked with my family and stuff, just to see the position that they’re in.
‘‘I thought ‘ You know what, it’s time for me to help my family’. There’s certain family members who I feel need a bit more help than the others. So I’m just concentrating on them really. That’s going to be confidential, bro. But I’m just close with the Rotorua ones.’’
Adams balks at the suggestion his plans are unusually generous
not
that any for a 19-year-old. ‘‘It’s just like everyone else going to college for four years or whatever, getting a degree so they can eventually help their family.
‘‘So I’m just doing it in a different way, on a different path. That’s been the plan ever since I started off, just to help my family financially and right now there’s an opportunity to do that so I’m taking it.’’
Adams had a solid, rather than spectacular freshman season at Pitt but believes he’s ‘‘definitely’’ ready for the NBA.
He’s not fussed about a playing destination, although after experiencing Pittsburgh’s winter, he would prefer a different climate.
‘‘I’m sick of this cold; I’m so sick of snow bro, so hopefully somewhere warm. But I just want to get the best training possible really. It’s just such a great opportunity so I want to make the most of it.’’
If he takes an NBA court, Adams would join Sean Marks and Kirk Penney on an exclusive list of New Zealanders to play on basketball’s biggest stage. He plans to pick their brains. ‘‘I want to talk to them to see what’s up and how they liked it or whatever. That would be pretty mean, just to have a good old yarn with them.’’
Adams says he will probably spend another week or so in New Zealand before returning to the United States to prepare for the draft.
He hasn’t yet got an agent and will leave the off-court decisions to mentor McFadden, the Wellington Saints legend-turned-coach.
‘‘I’m just ready to work man. I’ll do whatever I can to make sure I excel as a player. The NBA, whether I do get drafted or not, I just want to continually progress. This [declaring for the draft] was up there with one of my biggest decisions. But I think it’s going to work out well.’’
Not everyone is so certain, with NZ Breakers centre Alex Pledger among those believing the step is too big, too soon.
Adams is blissfully unaware of that outside noise, although he does have a message to Pittsburgh’s basketball community.
‘‘I honestly can’t thank Pitt enough. Just for teaching me, off the court as well. It was awesome, team-mates were cool, coaches were cool and the fans were mean as.’’