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Adams dials up new phone after bumper deal

Freshly-signed centre Steven Adams can tell friends and family in New Zealand all about his mammoth NBA deal after purchasing a much-needed phone.

Oklahoma City Thunder's Steven Adams

Oklahoma City's New Zealand centre Steven Adams appears unfazed by his life-altering NBA deal. (AAP)

Steven Adams appears unfazed by his life-altering NBA deal, having dipped into his new mega-salary to purchase a phone.

Oklahoma City Thunder's New Zealand centre remained typically down to earth when quizzed on a four-year deal reportedly worth $US100 million ($AUS130 million).

Thunder management wouldn't provide details about the deal concluded on Monday but it almost certainly makes Adams New Zealand's top-paid sportsman by a large margin.

The 23-year-old revealed he ruined his old phone at a crucial time last week when contract talks were heating up.

"I dropped my phone in the cold tub and it didn't work for the past three days - and stuff was going on," he said.

"My agent was trying to contact me and I was like 'I can't, I'm sorry'.

"So that was my purchase yesterday. I got a nice phone."

Pressed on his reasons for staying put rather than enter the free agent market, Adams says he enjoyed the sense of belonging first felt when he arrived in 2013.

"It reminds me of New Zealand, this place. There are good people here and it's a really good organisation," he said.

"Obviously it's good that (star guard) Russell Westbrook felt comfortable to sign again, it's kudos to the culture here and the environment that we have".

Thunder teammate Victor Olapido, who also extended his stay with another huge deal, says Adams is the ideal player to build the franchise around.

"He's a huge asset here. He's been here for four years and he's grown here," Olapido said.

"He deserves every penny he's got. He works harder than pretty much all the bigs (centres) I've been around.

"He doesn't go outside his comfort zone, he doesn't try to do too much. It's hard to find players like that."

The unbeaten Thunder face the Clippers in Los Angeles on Thursday (AEDST).


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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