Hard to get very excited about NBA pre-season games, but Steven Adams hit a three from the right corner in the Thunder’s 119-103 win over the Dallas Mavs in Tulsa on Tuesday night.
In his book Steven wrote that he had been working on this in workouts the past few years with then Thunder assistant coach Mark Bryant who is now with the Phoenix Suns.
It was a beautiful shot from the right baseline corner on the Thunder’s first possession of the game as Chris Paul assisted the monumental three. It was an interesting starting lineup as Billy Donovan went with his three point guards….Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Dennis Schroder.
If Steven Adams could become a contemporary big who could shoot the three what a difference it would make for him and the Thunder.
Anyway…good for Steven and I wish him well on his endeavor of becoming an NBA center who can score the three ball and help spread the floor for his guards.This didn’t happen over night. It’s been a process for Steven to take his offensive game to another level and add this dimension to his game. Steven was a late starter to play basketball in New Zealand and wasn’t really allowed to shoot much at all in his one college season at Pitt under head coach Jaime Dixon. I’m certain Mark Bryant sent a congrats text to his pupil.
My friend mentioned this today, and I thought he was kidding!
Steven talked about it quite a bit in his book. He’s been working hard on this with Mark Bryant in practice for several years. Bryant is now in Phoenix and from the book Steven absolutely loved Mark Bryant and pretty much hated his college coach Jaime Dixon at Pitt.
Dixon didn’t want Steven doing much offensively. He was just a big body on defense and on the boards. Plus, Steven was a late starter to the game of basketball. I think eventually Steven will be able to step out and hit the occasional three as his career moves along.
I wouldn’t trade Steven just yet given his career to date has had him paired with a point guard who plays too fast to bring out the best in a center for 48 minutes. It will be interesting to see how Steven’s offensive game evolves with Chris Paul in Oklahoma City.