Steven Adams, Houston Rockets
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Steven Adams is averaging 5.8 points and 8.6 rebounds in 32 games.
The Houston Rockets secured a 119-110 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Jan. 18. During the game, Houston’s Steven Adams exited the contest in the fourth quarter with an apparent lower left leg injury.
Adams attempted to block a shot and came down on his left leg and caused him to fall to the floor. The Rockets had to call timeout to address Adams and he was carried off to the locker room.
Rockets head coach Ime Udoka provided an update on Adams’ injury after the game. “Sprained ankle. A lot of swelling already. But nothing’s broken,” Udoka said per Vanessa Richardson via X.“Not a high-ankle sprain, not sure about anything time-wise. Got a bit of swelling and pain, obviously can’t put much weight on it.”
There is no timetable on Adams’ return, but the good news is that the injury was not as serious as it looked.
Houston Rockets Center Avoiding a Major Injury
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Steven Adams appeared to injure his knee during Pelicans-Rockets. He was carried off to the locker room.
When the play initially happened, the injury looked a lot more serious. You could see the pain on Adams face as he was holding his left leg. Adams is a competitor and for him to be helped off the court, that means it was serious. Before leaving the game, Adams had five points and 10 rebounds in 27 minutes of work.
The team and fans breathed a sigh of relief when Udoka provided that update and said that it was just a sprain. Adams has appeared in 32 games, making 11 starts this season and is averaging 5.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
He has missed a total of 18 games this season, dealing with minor injuries, but he has not missed significant time. The Rockets are hoping that will not be the case this time.
Steven Adams, Key Player for Houston
The Rockets will miss Adams’ presence on the court. He’s a player who can dominate on the glass and is a high-level defender. In his first season with the Rockets, he appeared in 58 games and averaged 3.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. While he’s not an offensive threat, he still adds value when he’s on the court.
After the 2024-25 season, Adams agreed to sign a three-year extension worth $39 million. Adams is a player who’s well-respected around the league. When Kevin Durant joined the Rockets, he spoke on reuniting with Adams.
“I don’t believe he’s aged that much… as far as his talent level, his skill level, it still reminds me of young Steven 10 years ago. That’s a testament to his hard work and dedication,” Durant said. “I’m grateful to be around Steven again.”
Adams is in his 12th season and at 32, he continues to play with a lot of energy. When he joined the Rockets, he was excited to be a part of a team that was filled with young talent and build relationships with them. “Right now, it’s just getting information and all that sort of stuff, hanging around and being around all the guys,” Adams said. “You can’t just come in and be like, ‘This is what you have to do.’ You have to build some sort of rapport first so what you say actually lands and they know it’s coming from a good place. And it goes both ways, you know. He might teach me something, which is good.”
The Rockets will hope that Adams won’t miss significant time and get back out there on the court soon.