Steven Adams may not be the most talked-about player in the NBA, but the New Zealand center quietly built one of the most successful careers financially and on the court. Even though at 32, Adams missed the entire 2023-24 season due to his knee injury, his reputation and value remained strong.
After a successful trade from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Houston Rockets in February 2024, he returned to the floor and became a steady presence in Houston’s impressive 52-30 regular season. Though the Rockets faced elimination by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, Adams’ toughness and leadership were evident.
ESPN reported that Adams signed a three-year, USD 39 million contract extension with the Houston Rockets earlier this week. The deal secures his place on the team through 2028. He added $210 million across his career without even hitting free agency. A defensive anchor and elite screen setter, Adams made one of the NBA’s most underrated financial success stories.
Steven Adams just pulled off one of the most underrated financial runs in NBA history.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 14, 2025
$210 million banked, zero free agency drama, and a brand-new extension to prove his value still holds.
He just signed a 3-year, $39 million extension with the Rockets, which will carry him… pic.twitter.com/GA3cKlJPEo
Since entering the league in 2013, Adams has become one of the NBA’s most insistent and reliable big men. Basketball Reference said he earned around $159 million before this extension. With the latest deal, he joins a rare class of players, achieving strong financial success in his NBA journey.
A Strategic Mind Behind The Outcome
What makes Steven Adams’ financial run so impressive is not the total sum, but his strategy behind it. He never tested the open market. Instead, he secured early extensions with each of the four franchises he’s played for, avoiding market volatility and injury risk. His newest deal with the Rockets proves teams still value his elusiveness.
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He played in 58 games in the recent season, averaging 3.9 points and 5.6 rebounds. Though the numbers are modest, his importance was far more than his stats, and his playoff presence tells a different story. He boosted his numbers in 21.1 postseason minutes per game and anchored Houston’s defense, showing why coaches trust him in big moments.
Steven Adams sets elite screens, dominates the glass, and leads on defense. More importantly, he is a culture setter with low maintenance and high impact, and now, he has executed one of the most financially stable careers in NBA history.
Also Read: VIDEO: Steven Adams Leaves Fans In Stitches After Bizarre Hug With Jimmy Butler Caught On Camera
