With the Steven Adams-to-Pelicans NBA trade finally formalised, now seems the appropriate time to pay tribute to his time with Oklahoma City Thunder.
The skinny teenager from "Rororua" (as NBA commissioner David Stern infamously mispronounced it) was drafted with the 12th pick in 2013.
Only 12 months earlier, the Thunder seemed on the verge of a dynasty, after a young core of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden fell to the LeBron James-led Miami Heat in the NBA Finals
Adams' arrival at OKC became more controversial as the years passed, because that pick was part of a trade that sent future MVP guard Harden to Houston Rockets.
Some disgruntled fans regard that as the first step in a steady exodus of All Star-calibre players from the franchise, including Durant, Westbrook, Victor Oladipo, Carmelo Anthony, Domantas Sabonis, Paul George and, most recently, Chris Paul.
The Thunder haven’t returned to the Finals since - the last four years, they failed to progress past the playoffs' opening round - and Adams has never been selected for the All Star Game, as his position becomes more obsolete in the modern game.
But the Kiwi has achieved something greater, endearing himself for his honesty - on and off the court - and humility in an environment that doesn't generally promote those qualities.
So, with that context, here are our top 10 Steven Adams OKC moments in approximate chronological order…
Adams goes house-hunting in OKC
After the draft, the rookie faced every home-leaver's worst nightmare, as he searched for a place to doss down in his new city - albeit, with a slightly bigger budget than most his age.
"I want to have a backyard and roof," explained Adams. "The bonus is to have high door frames and quite a lot of room.
"Why have all of them got small bathtubs? I can't fit."
Another requirement, as it turned out, was a clothesline, but apparently most Americans prefer to hang their wet laundry inside.
Of course, the neighbours would also need to raise the height of the fence...
Adams gets Vince Carter, Zach Randolph ejected
During his first year in the league, the baby-faced rookie showed a knack for getting under the skin of veteran rivals, then acting like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.
Against Dallas Mavericks, Adams snatched an offensive rebound and used his elbows to clear space in traffic, barely grazing Carter in the process.
Best known for dunking over seven-foot Frenchman Frederic Weis at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, on this occasion, Carter retaliated by throwing a forearm into Adams' face.
"I like rough Steven Adams," observed ESPN commentator Jeff Van Gundy, whose brother Stan will now coach the Kiwi at New Orleans.
"He doesn't shy away from contact, he's involved in the paint - he's a good player."
Referees called an intentional foul on Adams, but Carter was thrown out of the game for a flagrant foul.
During the playoffs that same season, Adams drew the ire of Memphis Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph, after the pair collided in midcourt. Randolph was ejected for throwing a punch and suspended from the deciding game of the series, which the Thunder won to progress.
These days, opponents have learned to stay clear of Adams, now regarded as one of the toughest guys in the league.
Adams shakes hands with himself
OK, you may have missed this one - it was subtle.
Early in his rookie season, the Thunder were running down the clock on a comfortable win over LA Clippers.
NBA players get uppity with opponents taunting them in victory and Adams maybe misread the situation, offering a friendly handshake to a beaten rival with 15 seconds still left.
Completely iced, the Kiwi turned the awkward moment into a delightful solo moment, as he slipped himself some skin.
Draymond Green kicks Adams in the nuts
During the 2016 Western Conference finals against Golden State Warriors, Adams drew the defensive assignment on All Star power forward Green.
The Kiwi continually frustrated his rival by refusing to back down, but their duel spilled over a couple of times, when Green lashed out with his foot to Adams' nether regions.
On the second occasion, the Thunder centre stood his ground in the post, denying Green passage to the basket, but
In the previous encounter, a similar incident was ruled inadvertent, but this time, officials deemed it a flagrant foul and Green was fined US$25,000.
That wasn't the end of the matter. Golden State would dispatch OKC from the playoffs and progress to face Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals, where they led 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.
In Game Four, Green clashed with LeBron James, picking up his fourth flagrant foul of the post-season and earning a one-game suspension. Without him, the Warriors lost a pivotal Game Five and momentum swung to the Cavaliers, who won three in a row to take the title.
Adams intense pre-game handshake with Nick Collison
Speaking of handshakes, most NBA players concoct all kinds of extravagant and intricate pre-game greetings with their teammates - but not Adams.
He and Collison - possibly the two most, ahem, enthically challenged guys on the Thunder roster (even though Adams is part Tongan) - adopted an intense ritual that involved a handshake lasting several seconds.
Until he retired in 2018, Collison was probably Adams' closest confidante and mentor on the OKC roster, and even when he was gone, the Kiwi continued to honour his departed mate with a pre-game 'ghost' handshake.
Adams saves opponent Mason Plumlee from serious injury
He may be NBA's toughest guy, but he also has a heart of gold and great self-awareness.
In 2018, while playing against Denver Nuggets, Adams faked Plumlee into jumping to block his shot.
The Nuggets centre came crashing down on the Kiwi and landed awkwardly, but sensing something bad was about to happen, Adams pulled out of his shooting action and surrendered the ball to cushion Plumlee’s fall.
Worst case scenario - Plumlee hits his head on the floor and suffers concussion, but Adams prevented that happening.
Adams waxes lyrical with media
One of the qualities that has endeared him to media is his willingness to discuss basketball - and life.
Adams' outlook is dramatically different to that of his teammates and NBA reporters have clambered for his entertaining take on a variety of subjects.
IN 2017, after OKC traded centre Enes Kanter to New York Knicks, the Kiwi was asked how he felt about the departure of his old mate and former 'Stache Brother'.
"He didn't die, mate," declared Adams. "Everyone's been coming at me like he passed away - then I'd be sad.
"He just moved down the road - I see him soon, in about three weeks. I'm not going to miss him."
When their paths crossed again, Adams could be heard scolding Knicks coach David Fizdale for putting Kanter on the court.
"Sub him out. He doesn't know how to play defence."
Earlier this year, as NBA players grumbled about heading into a COVID-19 'bubble' to finish their season, Adams was asked about the inconvenience of being cut off from the outside world.
"Let's be clear, this is not Syria, mate," he said. "It’s not that hard… we're living in a bloody resort."
But Adams ruffled a few feathers with his 2017 reference to Warriors guards Steph Curry and Klay Thompson as "quick little monkeys", a comparison that holds sinister overtones in the United States.
Bizarrely, African Americans across the nation debated whether the part-Tongan hoopster was racist.
"It was just a poor choice of words, mate," he apologised the next day. "I wasn’t thinking straight.
"I didn't know it was going to upset anyone, but I'm truly sorry."
Adams' full-court assist for Denis Schroder buzzer-beater
While he's best known - statistically - for his offensive rebounding, our boy is also a deft passer and demonstrated that ability perfectly against Minnesota Timberwolves last December.
With 1.1 seconds left on the clock, Timberwolves centre Karl Anthony Towns had a chance to seemingly clinch the game with a pair of free throws.
Towns hit both for a 122-120 lead, but Adams quickly rebounded the second 'make', stepped over the baseline and launched a one-handed 'Hail Mary' heave that found guard Schroder under the opposite basket to tie the score and force overtime.
Oklahoma City eventually prevailed 137-127.
Adams turns khaki into fashion statement
While most NBA players regularly transform their pre-game walk-up into a high-fashion catwalk, our guy has kept it real, actually dressing down for the occasion with a very limited range of flip-flops, beanies, tee shirts and track pants.
One of the very few exceptions came last December, when Paul shouted his teammates suits for their entrance against Memphis Grizzlies.
"He was, like, 'Yeah bro, wear it to the game... it's a team thing," said Adams. "And I was, like, 'Ah shit'.
"I was just going to hang it up."
Wearing a dapper cheesecutter, the Kiwi made quite an impression on his mates.
"Stevo, I've never seen him with a pair of shoes on," said Paul. "He came in here fresh, with that hat on."
Adams hits halfcourt shot against New Orleans Pelicans
One skill the Kiwi hasn't mastered - many would argue to his detriment - is three-point shooting.
Adams came into the NBA with a limited offensive repertoire and while he has developed a range of shots around the basket, becoming one of the most accurate close-range finishers in the league, he has largely refused to step outside the paint.
Entering last season, he had attempted only nine shots from beyond the arc, but finally - almost accidentally - hit one in February, ironically, against his new team.
With only three seconds remaining before halftime, Adams inbounded the ball from the baseline and received a return pass from Chris Paul, still on his own side of halfway.
As time expired, he flipped a one-handed attempt that looked more like sister Val shot-putting at the Olympics, followed its path as it fell through the net and celebrated with a little shimmy, much to the delight of teammates.
