Ni Ernest Hernandez

NABIGO man na makausad sa NBA Finals, ikinararangal ni OKC Thunder center Steven Adams na naging bahagi siya ng matikas na kampanya ng koponan na tinampukan ng triple-double record ni MVP Russell Westbrook.

Malaki ang papel na ginampanan ng seven-footer mula sa New Zealand sa regular season at playoffs sa kabila nang pagkasibak sa kanila ng Houston Rockets sa second round. Naitala niya ang averaged 11.3 puntos, 7.7 rebound at 1.1 steal para tulungan ang OKC sa kanilang laban.

Steven Adams_MB copy

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Bunsod nito, pinalagda siya ng bagong kontrata na nagkakahalaga ng US$100 milyon sa loob ng apat na taon.

“Really good! Really good, dude!” sambit ni Adams, patungkol sa pagiging malapit niya kay Westbrook.

“That is the only thing I care about is that he is an amazing guy to play with because once you get a good guy off the court it makes him enjoyable to play with cause you know that everything he does is coming off the right place.

He is really a good guy. He just had a baby too. He turns into a dad. Let’s see how it changes him.”

Iginiit niya na mas titibay ang kanilang hanay sa pagdating ni Paul George, nakuha ng Thunder sa free agency matapos nitong tuldukan ang samahan sa Indiana Pacers.

“I haven’t met the guy (George) but I’m excited to meet him. I more excited just going back and being with the Thunder – just working out every day, the family vibe,” pahayag ni Adams. “I am actually joining him after this in L.A.”

Ngayong, hindi na nag-iisa si Westbrook bilang All-Star sa Thunder, kumpiyansa si Adams sa kahihinatnan ng kanilang kampanya sa pagbubukas na season sa Agosto.

“He is obviously going to help us. He is going through the same thing and he is going to be a good guy. If you are a good guy and everything else is easy,” aniya.

Malaki rin ang bilib ni Adams sa kanyang foreign teammate na si Enes Kanter, nahaharap sa kontrobersya bunsod ng pulitika sa sinilangang bansa na Turkey, na aniya’y malaki ang naitulong sa pagusbong ng kanyang talento.

“He is annoying… Nah, he is cool,” sambit ni Adams.

“We just help each other and give each other advice. Having a good friendship with him and say whatever you want. There is no sugar coating. Just tell each other straight-up.”