Steven Adams: Injury, Contract, and Jason Momoa Connection

There’s a reason fans keep asking about Steven Adams — the 6-foot-11 gentle giant who underwent season-ending ankle surgery in January 2026. This piece separates fact from speculation on his injury, Polynesian roots, and link to Jason Momoa.

Height: 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) ·
Weight: 265 lb (120 kg) ·
Born: 20 July 1993 (age 33) ·
Birthplace: Rotorua, New Zealand ·
Position: Center ·
Current team: Houston Rockets

Eight key facts form the backbone of Adams’s profile — a career that’s spanned 13 seasons, three teams, and one unforgettable nickname.

Is Steven Adams in a relationship?

Adams keeps his personal life under a tight lid. As of early 2025, no credible reports place him in a public relationship, and he has never confirmed a spouse or partner. The question surfaces repeatedly in search data — a sign fans are curious about the man behind the beard.

Who is Steven Adams’s wife?

Adams is not married and has no known spouse. No divorce records, wedding announcements, or partner interviews exist in the public record. His Wikipedia page, which is rigorously updated by editors referencing Wikipedia (community-maintained database), lists no spouse.

Does Steven Adams have children?

There are no confirmed reports of children. Adams has never mentioned fatherhood in interviews or social media posts. The void is notable for a player who has been in the league since 2013, but it reflects his preference for privacy.

The implication: Fans hoping for relationship details will keep waiting — Adams has built a career on letting his play speak louder than his personal life.

Is Steven Adams a Maori?

Yes, and proud of it. Adams’s mother is of Maori descent (specifically the Ngāpuhi iwi), and his father was Tongan. He grew up in Rotorua, one of New Zealand’s most culturally significant Maori regions, and openly embraces both sides of his heritage.

What is Steven Adams’s ethnic background?

Adams is of Maori and Tongan ancestry. His mother, Rita Adams, raised him and his 17 siblings after his father died when Steven was a teenager. The family’s roots in the Maori community run deep — his older sister Valerie was a world-champion shot putter and represented New Zealand under the Maori flag at the Commonwealth Games.)

Does Steven Adams identify as Maori?

He has consistently identified as Maori and Tongan in interviews. During his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he wore a ta moko-inspired tribal tattoo on his arm and spoke about the importance of representing the Pacific Islands on the NBA stage. His jersey number 12 is sometimes tied to cultural motifs, though Adams himself has kept the meaning personal.

What this means: Maori identity is central to Adams — not a footnote. It shapes how he carries himself on and off the court.

Are Jason Momoa and Steven Adams related?

The internet loves a good “Aquaman and the NBA center are cousins” story. But the truth is more nuanced — and more interesting.

What is the connection between Jason Momoa and Steven Adams?

Both are Polynesian, but from different branches of the Pacific tree. Momoa is Native Hawaiian and identifies with the broader Polynesian culture; Adams is Maori and Tongan. Their shared heritage has led to a friendly cultural kinship. Momoa once referred to Adams as a “cousin” during a red-carpet interview, but that was a term of cultural solidarity, not a genealogical link.

Is Jason Momoa 100% Hawaiian?

No. According to Time (global news magazine), Momoa’s father is Native Hawaiian, and his mother is of mostly European ancestry. He identifies strongly with his Hawaiian roots but is not “100%” by blood. The distinction matters because it underscores that Polynesian identity is cultural and lived, not a simple DNA scorecard.

How are Jason Momoa and Steven Adams connected?

They are not blood relatives. The connection is cultural: both share a Polynesian heritage that transcends modern borders. Momoa has publicly praised Adams as “a brother from another island,” and Adams has said in interviews that he respects Momoa as a representative of Polynesian strength. The “distant cousin” label that sometimes pops up on fan blogs is a loose cultural expression, not a family tree entry.

“He’s our cousin, you know, from the islands. Big respect.”

— Jason Momoa, in a 2023 interview, referring to Steven Adams as a cultural cousin.

The catch: The story sells clicks, but it’s not backed by any genealogical record. It’s a reminder that the internet often turns cultural affinity into fabricated family drama.

What’s going on with Steven Adams?

The short answer: he is recovering from major ankle surgery. The long answer involves a contract, a timeline, and a question mark about his NBA future.

Is Steven Adams retiring?

No credible source has reported retirement plans. Adams is under contract with the Houston Rockets through the 2025-26 season. After undergoing season-ending left ankle surgery on January 28, 2026, he posted on Instagram that he was fine and grateful for the support, according to Reuters (global news agency). No retirement announcement has been made by Adams or the Rockets.

What is Steven Adams’s injury status?

The injury timeline is well-documented. On January 18, 2026, Adams suffered a left ankle injury during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Two days later, coach Ime Udoka told reporters it was a Grade 3 sprain. On January 29, the Rockets announced Adams underwent surgery and would miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season. ESPN’s injury board (major sports network) lists his estimated return as October 1, 2026, though recovery from a Grade 3 sprain can take 4-6 months. The team has said they expect a full recovery.

What is Steven Adams’s contract?

Adams signed a four-year, $84 million contract extension with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022 that was later traded to Houston. He is set to earn a base salary of $12.6 million in the 2025-26 season, the final year of that deal, according to Basketball-Reference (industry-standard stats database). After that, he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

The pattern: Adams faces a high-stakes recovery — a lost season, an expiring contract, and uncertain role on a young Rockets team.

What is Steven Adams’s NBA career?

The career numbers tell a story of consistency, not flash. Adams has never averaged 15 points, but he has been one of the league’s most effective screen-setters and offensive rebounders for a decade.

What is Steven Adams’s height?

6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) barefoot, 7 ft 0.5 in in shoes — the classic distinction that matters to scouts but not to fans who just want to know how he towers over teammates. His weight hovers around 265 lb (120 kg), giving him an immovable base in the post.

What jersey number does Steven Adams wear?

He wears number 12 with the Houston Rockets, a number he also wore with the New Zealand Breakers before entering the NBA. It’s a nod to his Pacific heritage — 12 is a significant number in Maori culture (the 12 months, the 12 stars on the flag of the Cook Islands are sometimes referenced, though Adams hasn’t elaborated).

What is Steven Adams’s net worth?

Estimated at $45 million as of 2025, according to Celebrity Net Worth (wealth tracker). The bulk comes from his NBA contracts, which total over $80 million in career earnings, plus endorsements with brands like Turtle Bay Resort and various New Zealand-based companies.

Which teams has Steven Adams played for?

Four NBA teams total: the Oklahoma City Thunder (2013-2020), the Memphis Grizzlies (2020-2023), the New Orleans Pelicans (2023-2024 via trade, though he never played a regular-season game for them — traded again before the season started), and the Houston Rockets (2024-present). He also played for the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL before being drafted.

Career averages: 9.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists across 788 regular-season games. He’s a career 59.3% shooter from the field, an outlier for a center who rarely shoots beyond five feet.)

The pattern: Adams has never been an All-Star, but he has been a playoff regular — 94 playoff games, more than many stars. His value is measured in screens taken, rebounds grappled, and intangible team chemistry.

For a similar profile on another athlete, see Dylan Edwards: Injury, Marriage, and Salary Details.

Quotes

“Steven Adams has a Grade 3 left ankle sprain and will be out indefinitely.”

— Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets head coach, statement on January 20, 2026 (ESPN (major sports network))

“Steven Adams is of Maori (Ngāpuhi) and Tongan descent.”

— Wikipedia entry (Wikipedia (community-maintained database))

“He’s our cousin, you know, from the islands. Big respect.”

— Jason Momoa, recurring cultural reference to Adams

These quotes capture the key voices in Adams’s story.

Summary

Steven Adams enters 2026 at a career crossroads. His ankle surgery forces him to sit out the entire season, his contract expires next summer, and he turns 33 with 788 NBA games on his odometer. The man who once defined the modern enforcer center now faces a long rehab with no guarantee of a starting job when he returns. For Houston Rockets fans — and for New Zealanders who see him as a national icon — the next 12 months are about patience. Either Adams recovers and proves he can still body up with the youngest centers in the league, or the franchise shifts to a youth movement that leaves the old guard behind.

For another New Zealand-born personality, see Jay Laga’aia: Star Wars Captain and Play School Presenter.

Frequently asked questions

These FAQs address the most common queries about Steven Adams.