Steven Adams amuses the media with wit
NBA Update – Steven Adams is at it again, entertaining reporters stateside as he deals with the big issues of the modern NBA, ranging from Russell Westbrook’s rebounding prowess to the use of medical marijuana.
Adams has made it clear he’s happy to give up his rebounds to Westbrook, so long as his triple-double averaging point guard superstar team-mate is happy to take a little stick for it.
And, as for the issue of prescribed cannabis to deal with pain, which has become a hot topic around the NBA, well best to, er, inhale the Kiwi’s response for yourself.
The 23-year-old New Zealand centre is averaging a career-high 7.7 rebounds a game in the NBA this season (as well as a career-best 10.8 points) for the 14-8 Oklahoma City Thunder, though that number could be even higher if he wasn’t playing alongside possibly the best rebounding point guard the league has ever seen.
Westbrook, through the first 22 games, is averaging a triple-double of 31.0 points, 10.9 rebounds and 11.3 assists, and leads his team in all three categories. There is conjecture that he could become the first player since Oscar Robertson, back in 1961-62, to average a triple-double for the entire season.
Westbrook’s rebounding numbers are phenomenal for a point guard, and Adams was asked after practice in Oklahoma on Thursday (NZT) whether he minded Westbrook hoovering up boards that might normally be grabbed by big men such as himself.
“As long as our team gets a rebound, it doesn’t matter,” the team-first Kiwi told reporters. “There’s just some funny ones we always kind of mock him about. Like Joffrey [Lauvergne] clearly has two hands on the ball and aaahhh …
“No one cares. I like it because I can actually really box out my dude. It’s good that he actually gets to come in and just like take it. I don’t mind it.”
Adams also had an hilarious response when he was asked about Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s recent admission that he had turned to medical marijuana to help alleviate chronic pain following back surgery last year.
Kerr’s comments had become quite a conversation topic around the NBA, after he had said “pot is better for your body than Vicodin” and pointed out athletes were given prescription painkillers “like it’s Vitamin C, like it’s no big deal”.
Adams was asked his view on the use of prescription cannabis to deal with pain.
First he clarified the substance. “On what? Oh, weed.”
Then he added: “I’m no doctor mate … the only thing I know is dudes just want to go to another world, take that guy and then they’ll get their mind off it.
“In terms of medical, no idea mate, I’d probably stick to prescription, eh.”
Told that doctors could prescribe cannabis in some US states as a legal substance to deal with pain, Adams replied: “Who’s doctor’s this? Where’s that doctor?”
Advised Kerr and legendary coach Phil Jackson had both admitted to medical use of the substance in states where it was legal, he added: “I assume they probably enjoyed themselves. It would help with the sickness or whatever because being sick sucks. But they use it, they’re happy.”
Adams and the Thunder resume their schedule on Saturday (NZT) at home against James Harden and the Houston Rockets.
Meanwhile Westbrook’s shot at an historic triple-double average for the season has received the ultimate endorsement from the best player in the league.
“Westbrook can do it,” Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James told media.
“He’s capable of doing it. He’s like the Energizer Bunny, man. He just doesn’t get tired, and when you have that passion for the game too, it’s very doable.
“The game has definitely changed a little bit. It’s almost feeling like back in the ’80s when teams were putting up 145s (in points) and more possessions and more shot attempts. So, with his athleticism, with him being able to go get those rebounds, he handles the ball for the majority of the game for OKC so he’s going to get the assists and I think he’s … going to get 10 points. That’s the easy thing for him. So, it’s very doable.”
Category: Basketball
