Getty Images LeBron James and Steven Adams.
Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams was dubbed the NBA’s toughest player in NBA.com’s annual survey of league general managers.
The voting wasn’t even close, as Adams drew a third of the votes, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James and the Boston Celtics’ Marcus Smart, who each notched 13 percent.
From NBA.com:
Who is the toughest player in the NBA?
1. Steven Adams, Oklahoma City – 33%
2. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 13%
Marcus Smart, Boston – 13%
4. Draymond Green, Golden State – 10%
James Johnson, Miami – 10%
In typical Adams fashion, the burly, stone-faced center wasn’t all that impressed when he heard the news.
Steven Adams: Not here for toughest player votes. “Do I get anything? Did I win? Do I get a bonus?”
Slotting in at No. 4 is Draymond Green, who helped display just how resilient the OKC center is. The Golden State Warriors’ defensive dynamo twice propelled his leg into Adams’ crotch during the 2016 Western Conference finals, and each time the New Zealand native gutted through the rest of the contest.
Last year, Adams split the honor with Green and Kawhi Leonard; each player received 14 percent of the vote.
Since being drafted 12th overall in 2013, Adams’ abilities to withstand pain and get under opponents’ skin have not made him many friends outside the Thunder locker room.
Adams’ strength and willingness to use it has rendered him a beast on the offensive glass; he finished second to the Detroit Pistons’ Andre Drummond in offensive rebounds per game in 2017-18, and second Enes Kanter of the New York Knicks in offensive rebound percentage.
Steven Adams Is Tough and Respected
Unlike Green, Adams has managed to draw the “tough” label without the “dirty” one that usually follows.
“Nah, I love him man,” Phoenix Suns center Tyson Chandler said following a game in 2016 in which he and Adams got tangled up, according to The New Zealand Herald. “We get into it every time, but I honestly love the way he plays. He’s not necessarily dirty, he just plays hard as s***. You’ve got to respect that.”
The big man’s also received praise from Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon.
“I didn’t really know what to expect when I first saw him,” Olajuwon told The New Zealand Herald in February. “I knew he ran the floor very well and was very physical, but I didn’t know he’d develop to be more mobile … but you could see from the beginning his work ethic.
“Any time you have a big guy that can move, is very agile, can move very well, block shots, rebound, and finish, that’s not going anywhere — that’s always in demand.”
Other Interesting Results From the Poll
By a narrow margin, NBA GMs believe the Indiana Pacers’ signing of Tyreke Evans will prove to be the most underrated acquisition of the summer.
What was the most underrated player acquisition?
1. Tyreke Evans, Indiana – 13%
2. DeMar DeRozan, San Antonio – 10%
Jabari Parker, Chicago – 10%
Julius Randle, New Orleans – 10%
Dennis Schroder, Oklahoma City – 10%
6. Trevor Ariza, Phoenix – 7%
DeMarcus Cousins, Golden State – 7%
Isaiah Thomas, Denver – 7%
Half the GMs surveyed selected LeBron as the NBA’s best passer.
Which player is the best passer?
1. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 50%
2. Chris Paul, Houston – 17%
3. Rajon Rondo, L.A. Lakers – 7%
Ben Simmons, Philadelphia – 7%
John Wall, Washington – 7%
A year after the San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich was noted as the league’s best coach by 82 percent of GMs polled, the Boston Celtics’ Brad Stevens surpassed him.
Who is the best head coach in the NBA?
1. Brad Stevens, Boston – 47%
2. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio – 30%
3. Mike D’Antoni, Houston – 7%
Steve Kerr, Golden State – 7%