Meanwhile, Adams' fifth season in the NBA has been marked as one for the record books, after the Kiwi went from role player to elite center in the space of 82 games.
But his team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, have recently been slammed for being "shady" about a suspected injury to Adams' right arm.
Read more: Basketball: Steven Adams fouls out as Oklahoma City drop game two against Utah Jazz
Adams, who typically takes tips with his right hand, faked right before going up with his left arm at the start of the Thunder's second game in the playoff series yesterday.
Adams reportedly had cupping performed on his right shoulder, but when asked by a reporter what the therapy did for him, the Kiwi hesitated to answer.
"Yaeehm? ... muscle relaxation, we'll go for that," Adams told ESPN's Royce Young.
Earlier this week, the big Kiwi was named as one of six finalists for the NBA Sportsmanship Award, which will be presented on June 25.
Read more: Basketball: 'You alright, mate?' - Steven Adams puts reporter in place after getting interrupted
The award is "presented to the player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court," recognising "ethical behavior, fair play and integrity".
The nomination, however, was described as a whirlwind turnaround for the Kiwi, who was named the second dirtiest player by the NBA in 2016 according to a poll by the Los Angeles Times.
Should Adams win the prestigious Sportsmanship Award, he would be just the third center in the award's history.
