It’s been six years since he played there, but Steven Adams remains an OKC fan favorite. Even though he’s been on three different teams since his departure, you can guarantee he’ll get a standing ovation or get begged for autographs and pictures whenever he’s in the building.
Adams spent his first seven seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was an important starter who dominated on the glass and was Russell Westbrook’s favorite pick-and-roll partner. With his colorful personality, he quickly became a fan favorite.
The Thunder were contenders throughout Adams’ time in OKC. He was an important piece to several playoff teams and their 2016 Western Conference Finals run. He played alongside all-time legends like Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Paul George and Chris Paul.
Recently on ‘The Young Man & The Three’ podcast, Adams recounted his time in OKC. He remembers it fondly and still holds his time on the Thunder in a special place in his heart.
“They accepted me wholeheartedly. The people there looked after me constantly. Very nice people. Neighbors were great,” Adams said. “Everyone I interacted with was very respectful and trying to make me feel welcomed. Definitely did. I was happy to spend seven years there.”
It’s nice to see that the feeling is mutual between Adams and Thunder fans. Since he was traded in 2020, he’s bounced around a few teams. That hasn’t dwindled his value, though. He’s one of the best offensive rebounding centers the NBA has ever seen.
Now on the Houston Rockets, Adams perfectly fits with their identity of being a big squad that relies on second-chance points and rebounds to cook their opponents on offense. There, he’s reunited with Durant. Let’s see if they can match up with the Thunder in a possible playoff series down the road.