A page is definitely turning in Oklahoma City. After Kevin Durant, Darren Collison or even James Harden, it is the private Steven Adams who left. He was obviously the oldest representative of the franchise before Sam Presti passed in the towel over this period which now belongs to the Thunder’s past. For the occasion, it was necessary to pay tribute to the first chapter of the career of hairy pivot, the one who has wet the jersey for the team like no one since its Draft in 2013.
That’s it, the last piece of the workforce that still smelled good the decade 2010 is gone. The last soldier, the strongest, the tallest, the strongest, the one who was ready to go to war every night in the jersey of OKC left the battlefield like everyone else. With a last year of contract to honor, he would have been unable to desert so he had to be forcibly removed. As we learned two days ago, Steven Adams is leaving Oklahoma to join the Pelicans in exchange for a few draft picks. After seven seasons of loyal service and 589 games on the clock, it is time for the great 27-year-old New Zealander to go see the country. Drafted by OKC in 2013 after an NCAA season under the colors of Pittsburgh, the big tattooed guy will have done all his classes at the Chesapeake Arena which he now knows every corner. If stars like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook or even Paul George although less linked to the history of the franchise have all left the ship, the neo-Z mast has stood firm, weathering every storm: the departure of KD, systematic first-round eliminations since 2017, the 3-1 lead lost against the Warriors in 2016. Particularly close to Brodie during all these years, also a member of the Stache Brothers with Enes Kanter, Steven has assumed his role at the departure of the leader of the team last summer and he is one of the architects of the very good 2019-20 Thunder campaign alongside Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In seven seasons, the pivot leaves Oklahoma with the honors, statistics of 9.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists, and only 34 career games missed. A true warrior who truly lives up to his reputation.
One thing’s for sure, the Big Kiwi will clearly be missed by Thunder fans. His tattoos, his mustache, his lumberjack haircut, but also his extraordinary physical impact, and especially his endearing side and his sense of humor at a press conference. We remember that moment in summer when the mastodon told us about his tan and his training in the middle of his cows. A quirky, sympathetic and polite player from a blended family of 18 children with a totally unique personality in the Great League. Always present when it came to dueling, ready to leave his body on the ground if necessary: even without splashing the floors of maddening statistics, the lookalike Aquaman will have marked the history of the franchise of Oklahoma City and will remain in everyone’s memory. And yet the Tall Black is only 27 years old, so he still has a bunch of years in the Big League to grab the bounce and break the circle, and it’s in the New Orleans racket that we will have the chance to see him evolve at the start of the school year. In a team of young wolves full of promise – Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kira Lewis Jr. – the bearded giant will team up with veteran Eric Bledsoe in an attempt to guide the pack towards what the Pels are aiming for next season. : qualification for the Playoffs. Khal Drogo of Oceania has changed army, but will not lay down arms. Well done Pelicans, you’ve just drawn a hell of a guy.
With the departure of Steven Adams, it’s a page that turns for OKC fans. The franchise can wish good luck to its New Zealand pivot who will remain as the one who perfectly represented the DNA of the Tonnerre team in the 2010s. Good luck, friend.
Source texte : The Oklahoman
