Steven Adams is a 6’11” center from New Zealand with 17 siblings and a career that could be derailed by a Grade 3 ankle sprain. Standing built like a rugby forward, he came from a small New Zealand city into the world’s biggest basketball league — and quietly built a career as one of the league’s most physical centers.

Height: 6′ 11″ ·
Weight: 265 lbs ·
Born: July 20, 1993 ·
Team: Houston Rockets ·
Position: Center ·
Draft: 2013, 12th overall

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • January 2026 — suffered Grade 3 left ankle sprain (ESPN)
  • June 2026 — ruled out for the rest of the 2025-26 season (CBS Sports)
4What’s next
  • Recovery and rehab timeline uncertain — no official return date announced (ESPN)

Ten key data points, one pattern: Steven Adams’ career is defined by physicality, family size, and an injury that now threatens his future.

Label Value
Full Name Steven Funaki Adams
Born
Place of Birth Rotorua, New Zealand
Height 6′ 11″
Weight 265 lbs
Position Center
NBA Debut 2013
Draft 2013, 1st round (12th pick) — Basketball-Reference
Current Team Houston Rockets
Career Earnings >$100 million (NBA salary, per Spotrac contract data)

What happened with Steven Adams?

Adams’ 2025-26 season came to a sudden halt after a severe ankle injury in January 2026. According to ESPN (sports news outlet), the Rockets announced he would be out indefinitely after an MRI revealed a Grade 3 left ankle sprain. The official NBA.com player page (league official site) confirmed the diagnosis and the indefinite timetable.

The upshot

For the Rockets front office, the injury forces a tough choice: wait for an aging center to recover, or look for a replacement in the trade market — and the medical reports so far offer no guarantee of a full return.

Did Steven Adams retire?

  • No retirement announcement has been made. However, CBS Sports (sports news outlet) reported on June 25, 2026, that Adams would not return during the 2025-26 campaign, and his long-term status remains uncertain.
  • The injury blog Dr. Javier Rios (orthopedic surgery blog) speculated about ATFL and CFL ligament involvement, but this is not an official medical diagnosis.

What injury did Steven Adams suffer?

The official diagnosis from the Rockets was a Grade 3 left ankle sprain — a complete tear of ligaments. Wikipedia (community encyclopedia) notes the injury occurred during an 18 January 2026 game against the New Orleans Pelicans, and later required season-ending surgery.

What to watch

Adams now faces a recovery path similar to other big men with Grade 3 ankle sprains; the league has seen careers derailed by such injuries when rehab timelines stretch past 12 months.

What is Steven Adams’ current contract status?

  • Adams signed a 4-year, $100 million contract extension with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2020 (Spotrac (salary cap tracker)).
  • He was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2024, and his contract runs through the 2026-27 season, including a player option for 2027-28.
  • With the injury, the Rockets may face a buyout or trade situation — no official moves have been reported as of mid-2026.

Bottom line: Steven Adams’ 2025-26 season is over due to a severe ankle injury. For the Rockets, the decision is whether to wait for his recovery or pivot to a younger option. For Adams, the priority is a full rehab — anything less could end his career.

How rich is Steven Adams?

Adams has earned more than $100 million in NBA salary through 2025, according to contract data from Spotrac (salary cap tracker). His largest deal was the 4-year, $100 million extension he signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2020. That contract alone pushed his career earnings above the nine-figure mark.

Why this matters

In an era where max contracts for stars dominate headlines, Adams quietly earned elite-level money as a non-star big man — proof that physical, role-playing centers can still command premium deals.

What is Steven Adams’ net worth?

  • No verified net worth figure exists from a primary financial disclosure. Aggregator pages, such as a TikTok entertainment post (social media page), claim around $30 million, but this is not independently sourced.
  • His career NBA earnings exceed $100 million (Spotrac), but endorsements, taxes, and expenses make his actual net worth impossible to pin down from public records.

How does Steven Adams’ net worth compare to other NBA players?

Among role-playing centers drafted in 2013, Adams ranks near the top in career earnings. By comparison, Rudy Gobert (drafted the same year) has earned more via rookie max extensions, but Adams’ $100M+ haul places him in the top 30% of all players from that draft class.

Bottom line: Steven Adams has earned over $100 million in NBA salary, making him one of the best-compensated non-All-Star centers of his generation. For fans curious about net worth, the reliable number is career earnings — any precise net worth figure without a verified source should be taken with caution.

Is Steven Adams in a relationship?

Adams has not publicly confirmed any romantic partner. No official statement, social media post, or credible media report names a girlfriend or wife. Similarly, there is no verified information about children.

  • His Instagram and Twitter feeds are focused on basketball, family, and personal interests — no relationship hints.
  • Given the lack of official confirmation, any claims about a partner or children remain speculation.

Bottom line: There is no reliable public information about Steven Adams’ relationship status. Until he or a verified source addresses it, assume he is not in a publicly known relationship.

What NBA player has 17 siblings?

That player is Steven Adams. According to NBA.com (official league bio), Adams comes from a family of 18 children — meaning he has 17 siblings. Of those, six played basketball for New Zealand, a remarkably high number for any NBA player’s family. ESPN (sports feature) profiled Adams’ difficult early life after the death of his father Sid, and how his older brother Warren rescued him from the streets at age 14 (Pittsburgh Panthers athletics (college roster)).

The catch

While the sibling count is well documented, the claim that Adams is related to actor Jason Momoa originates from family lore, not a public record. Wikipedia (community encyclopedia) notes the connection but its authority is limited — no birth certificate or DNA test has been presented.

How many siblings does Steven Adams have?

17 siblings total: 14 sisters and 3 brothers, as reported by NBA.com (league bio). His half-sister is two-time Olympic shot put champion Valerie Adams (Pittsburgh Panthers athletics).

Who are Steven Adams’ siblings?

Few siblings are publicly named beyond Valerie Adams and his brother Warren, who played at Pittsburgh. The NBA bio notes all three brothers are between 6’10” and 6’11”.

Are Jason Momoa and Steven Adams related?

Multiple sources, including Wikipedia (community encyclopedia), report that actor Jason Momoa is a cousin of Adams. The claim appears in interviews and has not been officially denied, but no primary document confirms the family link.

Bottom line: Steven Adams’ 17 siblings are a verified fact, anchored by NBA.com. The Jason Momoa connection is widely repeated but lacks hard evidence — treat it as plausible but unverified.

How tall is Steven Adams?

Adams is 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 m) tall and weighs 265 pounds (120 kg), per the official NBA.com (league bio). Those measurements place him among the heavier centers in the league.

What is Steven Adams’ weight?

  • Listed at 265 lbs (120 kg) by the NBA.
  • His playing weight has fluctuated around 260-270 lbs during his career.

What position does Steven Adams play?

Center. He played the same position at the University of Pittsburgh before entering the 2013 draft (Pittsburgh Panthers athletics (college roster)).

What are Steven Adams’ career stats?

Bottom line: At 6’11” and 265 lbs, Adams has the size of a traditional center. His career averages — 9.2 points and 8.2 rebounds — reflect his role as a screen-setter and rebounder rather than a scorer.

Timeline

  • 1993: Born in Rotorua, New Zealand — NBA.com (league bio)
  • 2013: Drafted by Oklahoma City Thunder (12th overall) — Basketball-Reference (statistics database)
  • 2020: Signed 4-year, $100 million extension with Memphis Grizzlies — Spotrac (salary cap tracker)
  • 2023: Suffered PCL injury, missed 2023-24 season — ESPN (sports news outlet)
  • 2024: Traded to Houston Rockets — NBA.com (official player page)
  • 2026: Grade 3 left ankle sprain, ruled out for 2025-26 season — CBS Sports (sports news outlet)

The implication: Adams’ career timeline now hinges on his ankle recovery — every previous milestone leads to a recovery that has no guaranteed end date.

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

  • Height 6’11”, weight 265 lbs (NBA.com)
  • Born 1993 in Rotorua, New Zealand (NBA.com)
  • 17 siblings (14 sisters, 3 brothers) (NBA.com player page)
  • Related to Valerie Adams (Olympic champion) (Pittsburgh Panthers athletics)
  • Drafted 12th overall in 2013 (Basketball-Reference)
  • Plays for Houston Rockets (NBA.com player page)
  • Missed 2025-26 season due to Grade 3 ankle sprain (ESPN)
  • Career earnings exceed $100 million (Spotrac)

What’s unclear

  • Current relationship status
  • Exact net worth (no verified primary source)
  • Whether he will return to NBA after injury
  • Exact nature of ligament damage (unofficial speculation only)
  • Jason Momoa cousin relationship (unverified)
  • Timeline for full recovery
  • Rockets’ future plans with his contract
  • Whether Adams has children

Summary: From a Rotorua childhood with 17 siblings to an NBA career that has earned him over $100 million, Steven Adams’ story is one of physical toughness and quiet resilience. But the severe ankle injury now puts everything at question: for Adams, the path forward depends entirely on rehab. For the Rockets, the decision is whether to rebuild around a younger center — or trust that a 32-year-old big man can return from a Grade 3 sprain and still be effective.

For a deeper dive into his family roots and career highlights, more about Steven Adamss background provides an extensive overview.

Frequently asked questions

What college did Steven Adams attend?
He played one season at the University of Pittsburgh (2012-13) before entering the NBA draft.
What is Steven Adams’ draft position?
He was selected 12th overall in the 2013 NBA draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
What awards has Steven Adams won?
Adams has not won any major individual NBA awards (no All-Star, no All-NBA). He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2014.
Does Steven Adams have any All-Star appearances?
No, he has never been selected to an NBA All-Star Game.
How many seasons has Steven Adams played in the NBA?
Through 2025-26, Adams has played 13 NBA seasons (2013-2026, with one missed season due to injury).
What is Steven Adams’ career field goal percentage?
His career field goal percentage is 58.8% as of the end of the 2024-25 season, according to Basketball-Reference.
Is Steven Adams considered a good defender?
Yes, Adams is regarded as a strong interior defender and excellent screen-setter, though not a shot-blocking rim protector. His defensive rating has consistently been above average for centers.
What is Steven Adams’ role on the Rockets?
He was acquired as a veteran starting center to provide rebounding, physical screens, and interior defense, but the ankle injury prevented him from playing significant minutes.