Basketball: Adams defence presence felt

Rotorua NBA star Steven Adams (centre) in action for the Oklahoma City Thunder this month. Photo / AP

Rotorua's Steven Adams has started every game so far this season, as the Oklahoma City Thunder have got off to a winning start during the 2015/16 NBA season.

Despite losing their latest game on Saturday in a 93-90 thriller against the New York Knicks, the Thunder currently hold a record of seven wins and six losses.

Adams and the Thunder will have high hopes of making the playoffs this season after missing out by the smallest of margins earlier this year.

New Thunder coach Billy Donovan has handed Adams a start in every game this season, preferring him over fellow centre Enes Kanter from Turkey.

While Kanter has posted some great figures off the bench this season, having joined the Thunder at the start of the year, Donovan seems to have confidence in Adams.

Adams, 22, who is now in his third season in the NBA, has largely picked up where he left off last season and is a solid defensive presence for the Thunder.

His shooting was a bit wayward on Saturday but he's actually managed to increase his shooting accuracy this season, compared with last season.

Oklahoma City Thunder's star player Kevin Durant was out injured (hamstring strain) again on Saturday but is expected to return soon. Last season he missed most of the season with injury .

The Thunder take on the high-flying Dallas Mavericks (9-4) today in Oklahoma City at 1pm (NZT).

* Steven Adams in numbers:

Current season so far:

Games played: 13; Games started: 13; Average minutes: 24.1; Points per game: 6.1; Shooting accuracy: 56.6 per cent; Average rebounds per game: 5.5; Average blocks per game: 1.8.

2014/15 season:

Games played: 70; Started: 67; Average minutes: 25.3; Points per game: 7.7; Shooting accuracy: 54.4 per cent; Average rebounds per game: 7.5; Average blocks per game: 1.2.