The Warriors tried to get Adams, a 46.2% free-throw shooter, off the court by using the Hack-a-Shaq strategy against him. But he made an adequate 9 of 16 from the foul stripe, and the Rockets put back a few misses to render the strategy moot.

Alperen Sengun on Steven Adams’ impact… “I hate playing against him at practise and I’m sure other teams hate him, too. He gives me a lot of space when two bodies gotta box him out. He does the hard job. I do the easy job and clean up.” pic.twitter.com/HfIi3nFS8C

Steven Adams’ journey to becoming an NBA star wasn’t just shaped by basketball. Growing up in a family of 18 siblings with a father who stood 6’11” and a mother with Tongan roots, his path to success was influenced by more than just the sport.