STEVEN ADAMS BASKETBALL CAMP

Steven Adams tipped off the 1st of his 3 'Steven Adams Basketball Camps' this morning at the North Shore Events Centre in Auckland.

This is the 3rd year he's run the camps in NZ and he's extremely passionate about giving back to the sport and country that has given him so much.

Boys and girls of all skill levels aged between 7 - 17 have the opportunity at each of the camps to learn individual and team fundamentals from Adams and his Oklahoma City Thunder teammates and coaches, in an atmosphere where the young basketball players will have the opportunity to improve and have fun at the same time.

Each of the participants were also given a basketball and 'Steven Adams Basketball Camp' t.shirt as they walked through the doors.

We caught up with him at the Press Conference prior to the camp - here's what he had to say on a few subjects ....

 

On playing in the NBA Western Conference Playoffs

"Playoffs are just on a whole new level.  I really learned that you have to be 100% focused as a team the whole time and all on the same page.  Thats the biggest thing I took away from it and yeah, just the whole experience - the intensity levels and strategy"

On growing his current Basketball Camp Programme

"We're definitely trying to grow it as big as possible and are trying out different options and making sure these options are the right fit and we have good foundations - thats the biggest thing - and thats what we're figuring out now.  We have a lot of people working really hard to make sure it all works.

 

 

On what inspired Steven to get into basketball

"I didn't actually like the game at first to be honest, I mean it was enjoyable but not like I love it now.  I mainly fell in love with just the progress and it made me feel like I had a bit of a purpose in my life, as cheesy as that sounds thats actually why and as I could see my skill grow thats when I understood that I can actually try and be something I wanted to be.  I wanted to see myself get better and grow every day and it just happened to be basketball.  It grew from there and then I pretty much fell in love with the game from that.

 

On the biggest change now that KD is gone

"The biggest change will be that Kevin won't be there (laughs) - we'll just have to see what changes the coach will have next year"  

 

 

 

On what he'll be teaching the kids at his camps

"It'll mainly just showing them how fun the sport can be, it won't be high performance training or anything like that, just making sure they love the game and we'll go from there"

 

On watching his sister Valerie Adams at the Olympics

"I probably have a different perspective on it than most New Zealanders do and I actually went up to see her last year while she was training and it's things like I thought I worked hard, but just seeing her work is a whole 'nother level, it's absolutely unbelievable.  She's the most disciplined person in the world and just the hardest worker - just witnessing that and then her recovering from the surgery, being able to compete in the Olympics and still being able to get a silver medal, it was just .... yeah, bro, I got really emotional - it was pretty awesome bro.  Everyone was going on about being disappointed it wasn't a gold medal but it wasn't about the gold.  I mean it would've been nice but just her being able to overcome surgery last year and get back up there yeah, it looked like she really enjoyed it - she just looked happy bro and thats the coolest thing.  Thats awesome! "

 

 

On introducing his OKC Thunder team mates to a bit of NZ culture while they're here

"No boil up yet (laughs) but we had a hangi yesterday over at Rangitoto and they really enjoyed it.  They're trying to get used to the raw fish and all that.  They really enjoyed the powhiri and have been amazed at the people here - how respectful they are and how much they care and thats something they'll take back to America - that the people really care.  

 

 

On what he tries to encourage the NZ kids at his camp with 

"Mostly just to have fun with it.  Especially at this stage, we don't want to make them do work and you don't want them to grow up too fast.  As long as they enjoy it then they'll progress as they need to.  The only thing thats going to get them through becoming a professional athlete because it's really, really hard and you have to sacrifice a whole lot - is just weighing up that 'Do you enjoy playing?'  thats the main thing - as long as that weighs up more than all the sacrifices then they'll be fine"

Suggested Links

 Steven Adams shows off NZ in Doco 

Valerie Adams 'My World' on Fresh