Steven Adams

Steven Adams turned physicality into a career. The 12th pick in 2013, the New Zealander anchored Oklahoma City's frontcourt for six seasons as its starting center, setting bruising screens for Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant and helping push the Thunder to the 2016 Western Conference Finals. His real trade is the offensive glass, where few players of his era converted screen-and-crash reps into second chances as consistently, and his hard, clean screens quietly bent defenses long before any box score noticed. After stops in New Orleans and Memphis he signed a three-year extension with Houston to pair with Alperen Sengun in a throwback double-big look, though ankle surgery ended his 2025-26 season after 32 games. He remains one of the league's better per-minute rebounders and a valued locker-room presence.