IT was a National Basketball Association (NBA)-studded weekend last weekend, with not just three but five NBA personalities in the city. (Steven Adams, Reggie Theus, the Laker Girls [Alanna, Jessica, Jessie, Marissah, Taylor and Tiege] for NBA 3X and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Matthew Dellavedova for promotional activities.)
It was the NBA 3X activity that I was able to watch up close. And apart from learning valuable lessons from Coach Reggie Theus (former head coach of the Sacramento Kings, now coach of Cal State University Northridge) and marveling at the sun-kissed charm of the Laker Girls, I had fun watching Steven Adams, the 7-foot center of the Oklahoma Thunder.
He was a breath of fresh air, quite the opposite of his cave-man image. Thanks to his long, wild mane and luscious facial hair, Adams can come across initially as mean and gruff. But no. Never have I encountered a more fun, more relaxed and totally un-self conscious NBA player since the global league brought in NBA players to the Philippines.
From Day One, when Adams had his first media availability with local sports media at the NBA Store, he was the game, accommodating and chummy NBA star. People loved taking selfies with him, and he willingly posed for all. Even when he faced the SM Mall of Asia crowd at NBA 3X Philippines, his friendly energy reached out to everyone, including those watching from the rafters.
I need not say more. If pictures speak a thousand words, let them speak for me today. Behold, I share with you these exclusive photos for the BusinessMirror of the nutty, funny and loads-of-fun NBA player, Steven Adams from NBA 3X Philippines 2017 presented by AXA.
Image credits: Keith Magcaling, Marie Dobuyan and Maru Arguelles