If you’ve watched the NBA for more than five minutes, you know that 7-footers aren't exactly rare. They're everywhere. But there is a very specific, almost mythical aura surrounding Steven Adams. It isn’t just that he’s tall—it’s that he seems to be made of a different material than the rest of us. Granite, maybe. Or some sort of reinforced steel forged in the Rotorua countryside.
The moment that usually defines him for casual fans isn’t a dunk or a block. It’s when Steven Adams picks up player like they're a stray grocery bag.
It happened most famously with Tony Bradley.
During a heated January game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Chicago Bulls, things got spicy. Ja Morant and Bradley got into it. Tensions were high. Pushing, shoving, the whole bit. Usually, this results in a "hold me back" dance where fifteen people pretend they want to fight while the refs blow whistles until their faces turn purple.
Not this time.
Adams just... walked over. He didn't scream. He didn't throw a punch. He reached out, grabbed the 250-pound Bradley, and physically relocated him. Bradley’s feet actually left the hardwood. He was dangling. It remains one of the most surreal "dad energy" moments in professional sports history.
Why Steven Adams Picks Up Player Like a Toddler
When people see Steven Adams picks up player clips on social media, they often assume it's just a height thing. It's not. Tony Bradley is 6'10". He’s a massive human being. To lift a resisting, professional athlete off the ground requires a level of functional core strength that most gym rats can't even fathom.
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Honestly, it’s about his base.
Most NBA players are "basketball strong"—they have great verticality and lean muscle. Adams is "farm strong." He’s talked before about growing up in New Zealand and doing manual labor, specifically chopping wood for hours to heat the family home. That kind of repetitive, heavy lifting builds a type of density that doesn't always show up in a bodybuilder's physique but is terrifying on a basketball court.
The Keldon Johnson Incident
More recently, we saw another version of this. During a Rockets-Spurs game, Adams was battling for a loose ball. Keldon Johnson was wrapped around it on the floor. Instead of wrestling for the ball like a normal person, Adams just grabbed the ball and the human attached to it.
He lifted the ball. Johnson came with it.
It looked like a crane lifting a shipping container. The funniest part? Adams usually apologizes afterward. He’s got this bizarre mix of "I could break you in half" and "Oh, sorry mate, didn't mean to startle ya."
The Reputation: "Running Into a Brick Wall"
If you ask NBA players who the strongest guy in the league is, the answer is almost always Steven Adams.
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Jimmy Butler once said that running into an Adams screen made him question his entire life. Zion Williamson—a man who looks like he was built in a lab to destroy rims—remarked that he’d never played against someone as strong as Adams.
There's a famous story from his OKC days. A player tried to elbow him in the ribs to get some space. Adams didn't even flinch. He didn't even notice. He just kept running his play while the other guy was probably nursing a bruised funny bone.
Why the Houston Rockets Wanted Him
Currently, in 2026, Adams is anchoring things for the Houston Rockets. They didn't trade for him just for the 8 points and 10 rebounds he might give you. They traded for the "Adams Effect."
- Screen Setting: When he sets a pick, the defender stops moving. Period. It creates massive lanes for guards.
- De-escalation: You don't start fights when Steven Adams is on the court. He is the ultimate "cooler."
- Offensive Rebounding: He doesn't jump higher than everyone; he just occupies space that no one else can take from him.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Strength
A lot of fans think Adams is just a "goon" or a "bruiser." That’s a total misunderstanding of how he plays. He’s actually one of the smartest positional defenders in the league.
He understands leverage.
When Steven Adams picks up player and moves them, he isn't just using his biceps. He’s using his hips and his feet. It’s almost like sumo wrestling. In fact, commentators have often compared his movement to a sumo rikishi. He knows exactly where your center of gravity is, and he’s going to use his 265-pound frame to negate it.
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The NBA has moved toward "small ball" and shooting, but Adams is a reminder that physics still matters. You can't shoot a three-pointer if you're being gently carried toward the sideline by a polite New Zealander.
How to Apply "The Adams Method" to Your Own Fitness
You probably aren't 6'11". You probably don't have a sister who is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the shot put (Valerie Adams). But the way Adams built his strength is actually pretty instructional for regular people.
- Focus on the Posterior Chain: Adams isn't strong because of his bench press. He’s strong because of his back, glutes, and legs.
- Functional Movements: Chop wood. Lift sandbags. Carry heavy stuff. It builds "bracing" strength that machines can't replicate.
- Embrace the Stoic Approach: Part of his strength is mental. He doesn't waste energy on fake tough-guy posturing. He stays calm, which keeps his muscles from tensing up unnecessarily.
What's Next for the Kiwi Enforcer?
As he enters the later stages of his career, the "Steven Adams picks up player" moments might become rarer as he focuses on preserving his body. But the legend is already set. He has redefined what it means to be the "strongest man in the league" by doing it with a smile and a "cheers, mate."
If you're looking to improve your own physical presence on the court or just in life, stop worrying about how much you can curl. Start worrying about how immovable you are. Focus on your base, work on your grip strength, and maybe—just maybe—find some wood that needs chopping.
To see this in action, watch his highlights from the 2025-26 season with the Rockets; pay attention to the screens he sets. He isn't hitting people; they are hitting him and falling down. It's a masterclass in physics.
Next Steps:
If you're a coach or a player, start incorporating "heavy carries" into your routine. Grab two heavy kettlebells and just walk. It builds the exact type of "anchor" strength that makes Steven Adams such a nightmare to move in the paint. Try to maintain a neutral spine and feel your core working to stabilize the weight—that's the secret to being "un-movable."