Before being known as one of the most intimidating players in the NBA today, Houston Rockets center Steven Adams was a wide-eyed rookie on the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In his first year in the NBA, Steven Adams faced off against Kevin Garnett, who was with the Brooklyn Nets back then, and the now 11-year veteran shared a story of how he dealt with him during a recent episode of The Morning Shift.
“My confidence wasn’t high man, so I wasn’t trying to get torn down. He’s the man when it comes to sh*t talking, he talks,” Adams said. “He was talking to someone because Kendrick Perkins and KG played together and they started mouthing off. Then I was coming up and he was like, ‘Look at the,’ and I just said, ‘No English bruv.'”
“He didn’t say anything after that, thank goodness. He would’ve ruined me. I would’ve cried,” he added.
Kevin Garnett has gained notoriety for being a huge trash-talker in the NBA, as he would almost always be seen getting into verbal spats with his counterparts. But make no mistake, The Big Ticket is not just a yapper since he has built a Hall of Fame-caliber basketball career.
Steven Adams aims to make a comeback for the Houston Rockets
Steven Adams was supposed to bolster the Houston Rockets’ big-man depth when he was traded in exchange for Victor Oladipo and a couple of future draft picks. However, his 2023-24 campaign ended prematurely after undergoing season-ending knee surgery in October.
If he gets to 100 percent fitness next season, the 30-year-old will likely serve as a veteran presence off the bench behind Alperen Sengun.
The Houston Rockets will look to make it back to the playoffs after finishing 11th in the Western Conference last season (41-41 record).