Some analysts saw him spending the whole season at the Tulsa 66ers - the Thunder's D-League affiliate - while others predicted Adams would see limited time at the big league club before the campaign concluded.
No one guessed what the 20-year-old from Rotorua would achieve.
Not only did Adams break preseason camp with the Thunder, he quickly won the back-up centre job and played major minutes in the first month of the season.
Through 16 games, the seven-footer played 17.1 minutes per game while accruing an average of 4.3 points and 5.0 rebounds. The latter two figures exceeded Oklahoma City's starting centre Kendrick Perkins, who managed just a minute more on average.
Adams even joined the starting five on a couple of occasions, taking the floor from the top beside Kevin Durant, widely regarded as the sport's second-best player, and fellow All Star Russell Westbrook.
Two nights after Carter gave the rookie a not-so-subtle welcome to the league, Adams had Thunder fans clamouring for him to start on a permanent basis when he posted a double-double of 17 points and 10 boards in a win over Detroit.
It remains to be seen if coach Scott Brooks heeds those calls by season's end, but it's clear Adams will continue to play a major role on a team rated third-favourites for the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy come June.
