Towering seven feet tall with a wingspan of 2.27 metres, a standing reach of 2.8 metres and size 19 sneakers, it’s fair to say Steven Adams is a giant of a man. Search the US press and “freak of nature” stories appear as the wider world continues to be dazzled by New Zealand’s greatest basketball export.
The dominating Oklahoma City Thunder centre is an iconic figure in the NBA, fusing personality with prowess in the name of basketball. With Polynesian tattoos, shoulder-length hair and a distinctive handlebar moustache, the Rotorua-raised Adams is one of the most recognisable figures in the NBA.
But the Oklahoma engine room has another passion. Away from the glitz, a new-found fondness for the little white ball has emerged as the captivating Kiwi swaps the court for the course.
“It’s definitely fun, bro. This game’s fun,” says Adams in his typically understated and unassuming manner.
So much so that he created his own celebrity-amateur event. The Steven Adams Invitational is set to become a regular fixture on the calendar, operating as a charity tournament that raises funds for the Sports Pathways Trust to promote junior basketball.
Adams has helped introduce a whole new generation of Kiwi kids to basketball since his rookie season in 2013. Furthermore, the trust’s mission is to develop young student athletes in New Zealand.
It was a Who’s Who of sporting celebrities who turned up to Auckland’s Windross Farm for the inaugural Steven Adams Invitational. All Blacks fly-half Beauden Barrett came for a hit, joined by Black Caps stars Tim Southee and Trent Boult, alongside America’s Cup hero Simon van Velthooven, Olympic champion rower Mahe Drysdale and former All Whites skipper Ryan Nelsen.
The celebrities teamed with some of New Zealand’s most generous private and corporate golfers. A touch of professionalism came from Ryan Fox who returned from the European Tour to take the opening honours for the longest drive. He pounded a 324m rocket from the tee, surpassing Boult’s powerful 301m blast.
“It’s great to try another sport and see how you go against other athletes,” says Adams. “Golf is fun and they were all really good. I was hoping there would be more of my level, but these guys can play.”
“Driving is the only thing I’m pretty good at. I can hit the ball relatively far but, in terms of general direction, I need to tighten that up,” concedes the first New Zealander to be selected in the first round of an NBA draft. “I’ve always went out to the right. But I made a few adjustments to my grip and now it’s going down the middle.
“You think you’ve turned a corner and that you’re getting good but then your next 10 shots are rubbish. That’s the problem.”
Since lighting up the NBA across the Pacific, Adams earned a reputation as a straight-shooting figure in the world of basketball, becoming a “very coachable” athlete in the process.
Guiding Adams through his first full round of golf on the course was Guy Wilson, the renowned coach who helped guide Lydia Ko to the top of the women’s world golf ranking.
“As an athlete, he takes to learning and wants to get better,” says Wilson at Windross Farm. “He doesn’t like being useless at something and his driving has been one of his strengths, but he also hit a number of really good pitching wedges.”
Despite his laid-back manner as a professional athlete, Adams is forever in search of the perfect performance.
“Consistency is key,” he says. “I hit a few fluke shots here and there which was pretty good. But the key was that my etiquette is definitely improving as well. That’s the main one, etiquette.”