Steven Adams is from New Zealand. He’s been in the NBA for three seasons, but he still isn’t completely up to speed on what might be considered offensive in the American language.
Adams discovered this Monday night after his Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. While trying to articulate just how difficult it was to contain Golden State’s guards, Adams referred to his opponents as “quick little monkeys,” which obviously raised eyebrows.
It didn’t take long for Adams to realize his mistake, though. The 22-year-old big man quickly issued an apology and explained what he really meant by the phrase.
“It was just a poor choice of words, mate,” Adams told USA TODAY Sports. “I wasn’t thinking straight. I didn’t know it was going to upset anyone, but I’m truly sorry. It was just a poor choice of words. I was just trying to express how difficult it was chasing those guys around.”
Adams enrolled at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Fitchburg, Mass., for one semester upon arriving in the United States before attending the University of Pittsburgh in 2012-13. He was drafted by Oklahoma City 12th overall in 2013 and since has become one of the NBA’s most charming characters. It’s easy to see that he likely really did just choose his words poorly.
“It’s just different, mate,” Adams told USA TODAY Sports. “Different words, different expressions, and stuff like that. But they obviously can be taken differently, depending on which country you’re in. I’m assimilating, mate, still trying to figure out the boundaries. But I definitely overstepped them (Monday night).”
