Grizzlies 25: Steven Adams was a Grizzly for a good time, not a long time
This is the 25th season of the Grizzlies in Memphis. To commemorate the anniversary, we are counting down the greatest players in Memphis Grizzlies history throughout the season. We start with No. 25 Steven Adams. (Photo illustration by Kelsey Bowen/The Daily Memphian)
This is the 25th season of the Grizzlies in Memphis. To commemorate the anniversary, “Grizzlies 25” will count down the greatest players in Memphis Grizzlies history throughout the season.
Name something that moves very slowly.
As a Grizzlies fan, you might well say “Steven Adams.”
Adams was still only 28 years old when he joined the Grizzlies, but he’d started his NBA career at age 20 and had already logged 575 regular season and playoff games.
He was recovering from a toe injury that had ended his lone, disappointing season in New Orleans. When he arrived in Memphis there was reason to wonder if wear-and-tear was catching up with Adams, if the best was already behind him.
As it turned out, the best was right in front of him and actual career-altering injury just around the corner. The Grizzlies got Adams’ best — and then his worst.
Adams’ lone fully active season with the team (2021-2022) was, not at all coincidentally, one of the best seasons in franchise history. He was the slowest player on one of the NBA’s fastest teams. Adams was even the slowest player on a roster that included another guy dubbed “Slow Mo.”
This is an excerpt of this story. To read more, please click here and subscribe.
Topics
Memphis Grizzlies Steven Adams Grizzlies 25 Subscriber OnlyAre you enjoying your subscription?
Your subscription gives you unlimited access to all of The Daily Memphian’s news, written by nearly 40 local journalists and more than 20 regular freelancers. We work around the clock to cover the issues that impact your life and our community.
You can help us reach more Memphians.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we provide free news access at K-12 schools, public libraries and many community organizations. We also reach tens of thousands of people through our podcasts, and through our radio and television partnerships – all completely free to everyone who cares about Memphis.
When you subscribe, you get full access to our news. But when you donate, you help us reach all Memphians.
Pay it forward. Make a fully tax-deductible donation to The Daily Memphian today.
Thank you for reading the local news. Thank you for investing in our community.
Chris Herrington on demand
Never miss an article. Sign up to receive Chris Herrington's stories as they’re published.
Enter your e-mail address
Chris Herrington
Chris Herrington has covered the Memphis Grizzlies, in one way or another, since the franchise’s second season in Memphis, while also writing about music, movies, food and civic life. As far as he knows, he’s the only member of the Professional Basketball Writers Association who is also a member of a film critics group and has also voted in national music critic polls for Rolling Stone and the Village Voice (RIP). He and his wife have two kids and, for reasons that sometimes elude him, three dogs.
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.