Steven Adams Returns to the Court After 646 Days.
Steven Adams made a triumphant return to the NBA on Monday, playing his first regular-season game in 646 days since January 2023. The 31-year-old center took the court during the Houston Rockets’ 106-101 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, rejoining the league with a sense of renewed energy.
Adams checked in for Alperen Sengun with 4:33 remaining in the first quarter, immediately impacting the game.
In just 14 minutes of play, he showcased his efficiency, finishing with six points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting from the field. He hauled in three rebounds as well.
Now 31 years old, the 6-foot-11, 265-pound big man steps in as Houston’s backup center behind starter Sengun.
In his last full season with the Memphis Grizzlies (2022-23), Adams averaged 8.6 points on an impressive 59.7% shooting from the field. He also recorded 11.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 27.0 minutes per game.
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Adams was initially sidelined due to a PCL sprain while with the Memphis Grizzlies, which prompted a stem cell injection in April 2023. Unfortunately, he was ruled out for the remainder of the 2022-23 season and underwent surgery in October 2023, leading to his exclusion from the 2023-24 campaign. To further complicate matters, the veteran center dealt with a calf strain at the start of this season.
The Houston Rockets acquired Adams from the Grizzlies in February, bringing his veteran presence to a young roster. In the preseason, he averaged 3.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists over three games.
With this victory, the Rockets improved to 2-2 on the season, gaining momentum as they move forward. Adams, who holds career averages of 9.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and one block, was selected 12th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft.
The Rockets will look to build on this success as they head to Dallas for their next matchup on Thursday.
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