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OKC Thunder: Steven Adams picks number to honor Nick Collison

ByRylan Stiles|
Steven Adams #12 of the Oklahoma City Thunder warms up before the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on December 5, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)
Steven Adams #12 of the Oklahoma City Thunder warms up before the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on December 5, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)

The OKC Thunder wrapped up Media Day on Monday, everyone on the roster plus head coach Mark Daigneault took the podium to update us on how their offseasons went, expectations for this upcoming season, and more.

For years, Oklahoma City Thunder Media Days had been dominated by one of the best personalities in the NBA, Steven Adams. Now, the big man is on his third team in as many seasons playing with the Memphis Grizzlies, a team he has some interesting history with.

OKC Thunder center Steven Adams picks a new number to honor Nick Collison

After being shipped to Memphis, the Pittsburgh University product could not long wear his traditional number 12. That of course, belongs to Grizzlies superstar, the high-flying Ja Morant. On the hunt for a new number, Adams picked the number four.

His reasoning? “All the cool numbers were taken” he jokes, before correcting himself and saying it is to honor his former OKC Thunder teammate, the first player to have his number retired in Bricktown, Nick Collison.

The hard-nosed center is still the life of the party, even at his new destination. On top of hugging weird-looking Grizzlie mascots during his photo shoot, he got to relive a historic experience involving the Memphis organization.


Grind City Media, on a show hosted by Chris Vernon, got the first interview with the new Grizzlies center. Before Vernon could even bring up the time Zach Randolph punched Steven Adams in the face during game six of an NBA playoff series that suspended Randolph for game seven, and Memphis fans claim is the only reason Oklahoma City won that series, Adams recounted the story.

After a hard screen, a missed three, and a Thunder rebound, Steven Adams started jogging down the floor to the offensive end. The score was 88-71 in favor of OKC with just six minutes remaining in the game. The Thunder were on the brink of pushing this to a game seven.

While running down the floor next to Zach Randolph, Adams was punched in the face, prompting Steve Kerr to say on the broadcast “There goes Steven Adams again!” who had the reputation for getting under players skins despite showing little to no emotion.

This event was the first thing to come back to Adams’s mind upon being dealt to the Grizzlies saying “I got punched, and now, I am the hole.” OKC Thunder fans will always root for the former center.

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