The OKC Thunder Kiwi Bible – An ultimate guide to Steven Adams

First Sign of Promise:

Steven showed up to Scots College looking completely out of place. His hair was long, halfway down his back, and unkempt. A thin, messy beard covered his face. His academics were poor. His attitude was atrocious.

The posh school’s dress code was a tie and red crested jacket. Steven, whose clothes were ragged upon arrival in Wellington, didn’t fit in.

“I’d never worn a tie before. I was a bushman,” he told Windhorst. “My friends now were like, ‘Who’s this murderer?

‘”I’d never worn a tie before. I was a bushman,” he told Windhorst. “My friends now were like, ‘Who’s this murderer?”

With the help of mentors, teachers, and coaches who saw his potential, Steven eventually found his place at Scots. One of those coaches was McFadden, who initiated a brutal schedule of 6 a.m. basketball practice, followed by after-school workouts.

As a result of his hard work, Steven began improving in all areas of his life. “I just got addicted to getting better,” he said.

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Ultimately, that drive to succeed got him noticed. He stood 6’10” at age 16, and his athleticism was already earning the attention of scouts in New Zealand and America alike. He eventually landed an invitation to Adidas Nation, a Los Angeles basketball camp for international prospects. As the product of a country primarily known for its rugby athletes, Steven was the only attendee from his region. At the camp, he played on the Latin American team.

From there, McFadden’s networking played a major role yet again when he dropped Steven’s name to longtime friend Jamie Dixon, the Pittsburgh University basketball coach. Dixon recruited Steven, who played one season at Pitt. After a year of being a Panther, Steven entered the NBA draft.