Basketball: New Orleans Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy gives brilliant review of Steven Adams after opening night win

After being traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the New Orleans Pelicans, New Zealand NBA star Steven Adams is adjusting very well to his new surroundings.

Adams was solid in his NBA debut with the Pelicans on Thursday (New Zealand time), filling out the stat sheet and helping his team to a 113-99 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

“Steven Adams is a lot more skilled than people think,” Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy said after the game.

“I think when people look at Steven, they see the size of him and they assume he’s, you know, a big banger, a screener and a physical guy. But he’s a skilled guy; he’s got great footwork, great hands. , he can pass the ball, he can shoot around the basket and go six to two meters with floats, he has a great touch.

“He is a very skilled player, as Pelicans fans will discover by watching him play this year.”

In 30 minutes of action, Adams recorded eight points and the same number of rebounds, as well as four steals, three assists and two blocks, turning a lot of heads and showing what he will bring to the Pelicans’ front court.

Reflecting on the game, in which the Pelicans committed 27 alarming turnovers, Van Gundy praised Adams’ work on the defensive end.

“He was really good defensively. He saved a couple of plays where our rotations were terrible and people were very open, he was basically able to defend two guys on his own. It was tremendous.”

Adams spent the first seven years of his NBA career in Oklahoma City, one of the NBA’s smallest markets, before being traded to one of the most exciting teams in the league.

The Pelicans are building around a young core of forward Brandon Ingram and power forward Zion Williamson, who have thrived since donning the New Orleans jersey.

The Pelicans sought Adams’ services to provide much-needed support in the middle, as he did against Toronto, but also to be a veteran presence for the young team. At just 27 years old, Adams is the fourth oldest member of the Pelicans roster and the third longest-serving NBA player, behind guards JJ Redick (now in his 16th season) and Eric Bledsoe (12th season). ).

“Probably the most surprising thing is calling a 27-year-old boy like Steven one of the old men,” Van Gundy said.

The next game for the Pelicans is against the Miami Heat, the reigning Eastern Conference champions, on Boxing Day (New Zealand time) in the first of five consecutive NBA games, all of which will be broadcast on ESPN.