OKLAHOMA CITY, July 12, 2013 – Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has signed center Steven Adams and guard/forward Andre Roberson. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Adams, the #12 overall selection by the Thunder in last month’s NBA Draft appeared in 32 games during his freshman season at the University of Pittsburgh where he averaged 7.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 23.4 minutes per game.
Adams was named to the Big East All-Rookie Team after ranking first all-time in school history for field goal percentage (.571), second in blocked shots (63) and sixth in rebounds (192) for freshman seasons. After being selected by the Thunder, Adams became the first player from New Zealand to be taken in the first round of the NBA Draft.
Selecting Adams in the first round of the NBA draft was only the first step in a process. Two weeks on, and the Oklahoma organisation likes enough what it sees in Steven Adams to formally offer him a contract.
And that decision has been made on the basis of form. Adams has impressed at Summer League, and looks to be taking to pro basketball like a fish to water. He announced his arrival in the league with a spectacular alley-oop with his very first touch, and the more court time he has been given, the better he has performed. Stuff reports:
New Zealand's Steven Adams has completed a dream debut with the Oklahoma City Thunder by playing a prominent role in his team's charge to the Orlando Summer League championship.
The Thunder today defeated the Houston Rockets 85-77 in the tournament's first official championship game to finish the week 5-0 and complete an extremely satisfying week's work in Florida.
Thunder management would have been rapt with Adams' efforts in Orlando, with the 2.13m No 12 draft pick exceeding expectations with a string of consistent performances in Orlando.
The big 19-year-old Kiwi rounded things off nicely today with another strong display in an impressive all-round effort by the young Thunder group.
Adams finished with a near double-double of 10 points (3/6 FG, 4/5 FT) and nine rebounds as the Thunder got five players into double-figures to dominate the Rockets most of the way. Once again he started at centre, playing just over 26 minutes, and also blocked a shot and had no turnovers in another effort that would have impressed his new team.
OKC clearly sees the potential in the big New Zealand centre, and getting him on contract is the first step in Adams' development. We will follow his progress and career with much interest, especially if he can keep performing feats like this one:
And here's an idea out of the square; just as Liverpool and Manchester United will play Australian teams in the next week or so on pre-season tours, how about some entrepreneur get OKC out here for a pre-NBA match at Vector Arena against the Breakers; that would be an absolute must-watch. Does anyone have Dean Lonergan's phone number?
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