LOOK: Ex-Thunder C Steven Adams Reacts to Question About Opposing Players' Screens
When you think of the Oklahoma City Thunder, chances are one of the first players to come to mind is Steven Adams.
Known for his long hair and tall frame, Adams came into the league in 2013 and spent seven seasons with the Thunder, often times setting picks for Russell Westbrook during the duo's heyday. More recently, the center has even been compared to movie star Jason Momoa, who headlined DC Studios' "Aquaman".
Unfortunately for Thunder fans, Adams is not secretly a movie star. He may very well be one of the toughest NBA players to ever hit the hardwood, however.
In a recent interview, Adams was asked about his "brick-wall" screens, and whether or not he'd ever been the victim of one from another player. His response?
"No," Adams replied, shaking his head repeatedly. "No, no, no."
The former Thunder center's response was more visible than verbal, but got the message across all the same. Adams hasn't ever felt "brick-walled" by any other players. Perhaps that's what made him so dangerous on fast breaks.
One of Adams' most famous screens came in 2017 during the First round of the Western Conference Playoffs. Oklahoma City was down by five points to the Houston Rockets on the road in Game 1, and with 8:30 left on the game clock, Russell Westbrook found himself dribbling the ball up-court.
Patrick Beverly was eagerly running after the point guard, looking to force him into a bad pass and turnover, but instead of chasing him down, Beverly hit the deck, garnering a collective gasp from the crowd — and J.J. Watt courtside.
"Beverly was knocked into next week," Kevin Harlan declared on the live broadcast. "He's got to come out."
Not only did the possession end in an Oklahoma City 3-pointer, but it sent a wake-up call to Houston's defense, which was now well aware of the extra attention it would need to give Adams — which unfortunately led to the Rockets taking the series, though not before Adams had his chance to join the highlight reel.
The Thunder may not have Adams' pure force any more, but if any of the young players need an example of how to effectively screen when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is racing down the court, they know exactly who to call.
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