Steven Adams was running.
He always runs through the tunnel and the hallway leading to the locker room, so it took a moment for him to realize someone was calling his name. He turned around, jogged the length of the tunnel and found the family that tried to call him over.
It was the 3-year-old's birthday, and they propped her up on the divider to take a picture with Adams. He still towered over her, and as her parents stepped back to take the picture, her face contorted like she was about to cry.
“I don't blame her,” Adams offered as her parents tried to comfort her.
That's Adams: equally sweet, awkward and intimidating. Now in his sixth season in the NBA, Adams has developed into a premier defensive center. His offensive numbers are impressive as well. Adams is averaging 15.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. With that success, the 25-year-old who ends half his interviews by saying, “words, words, words,” has become a mentor.
“I think his words are gold,” rookie center Tyler Davis said at Blue Media Day last month. “ ... Everything he says, no matter what it is, I listen to it and take it serious.”
Davis is on a two-way contract with the Thunder and Blue. He stayed after Thunder practice Monday to put up shots with Adams. When Davis made the final shot of their combined 10 left corner 3-pointers, Adams gave him a playful shove from behind. Keeping things light is one thing Davis said he took from Adams. Davis also wanted to hone his defense and communication skills.
“Things, really, that Steven does really well,” he said.