Editorial: All eyes will be glued to local lad's big moment

Steven Adams.

A kid from Rotorua will today be at the centre of one of the USA's biggest sporting events.

In case you somehow missed it - Steven Adams and his Oklahoma City Thunder have a do or die match today against the Golden State Warriors - with the Conference finals tied at 3-3, the winner goes through to the NBA Finals.

Millions around the world will be watching, including many in his home town of Rotorua, which he memorably told international press "smells like someone farted in your face all the time but you get used to it".

Some, like his self-described number one fan Aunty Bea, will have been watching his progress for some time.

Others will be more recent converts to the Adams fan club, tuning in to see what all the fuss is about. I confess to watching my first full NBA game in many years on Sunday, so count me among the bandwagoners.

While pure basketball fans may sniff at those getting caught up in Adams mania, it's got to be great for the game in this country.

It's not often basketball knocks rugby and league off the back pages, but over the last couple of weeks it has. That's solely down to Adams.

Along the way he is proving himself a great ambassador for New Zealand and a great role model for our kids.

He has maintained his unique down to earth Kiwiness and speaks fondly of his home town and country (fart references aside).

Even though he is now a star in the USA and his restricted rookie wage of less than $5 million could soar to around $88 million for four years when he signs a new contract, you get the feeling his size 19 sneakers are going to remain firmly on the ground.

As a kid running around Rotorua with too-small shoes he said he wanted to be a basketball player. Just look at him now.