Why Steven Adams Signed for Just $39M over 3 Years and Thanked Houston: Without the Rockets, His Val

Steven Adams has agreed to a **3-year, $39 million extension** with the Houston Rockets, a deal that sees his salary decline annually: $14.13M in 2025-26, $13M in 2026-27, and $11.87M in 2027-28. While the starting salary slightly exceeds his 2024-25 earnings ($12.6M), the contract stands out as remarkably team-friendly amid a rising salary cap era.

A Below-Market Deal for a Resurgent Center

• Despite averaging solid numbers (10.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG in 2024-25) and proving vital in Houston’s twin-tower tactics, Adams bypassed the chance to chase the full mid-level exception (estimated ~$12M annually) on the free-agent market.

• "This decision is built on gratitude, resilience, discipline, teamwork, and trust," Adams wrote in a post thanking the Rockets. "Houston gave me the time to heal, and now I want to repay them with my prime years."

The Rockets’ Role in Adams’ Career Resurrection

1. Patient Rehabilitation Process:

• Year 1: Pure physical rehabilitation, no on-court work.

• Year 2: Gradual integration with practice, limited games, and rest days to overcome mental hurdles.

• When Houston acquired Adams via trade, he was sidelined with a career-threatening knee injury. The Rockets dedicated two years to his recovery:

• "They didn’t rush me," Adams said. "October 29, 2024, vs. the Spurs—my first game back—Udoka followed the training staff’s plan: 5 minutes per quarter, max 15 minutes total. My mobility was slow at first, but they let me build up gradually."

2. Tactical Rebuilding in Twin-Tower System:

• Coach Ime Udoka’s postseason deployment of Adams alongside Alperen Şengün—where the duo dominated paint protection and pick-and-rolls—revitalized Adams’ value. "Without that system, I might have become a forgotten backup," he admitted.

Why Adams Chose Loyalty Over Max Money

• Market reality: Had Adams tested free agency, injury 疑虑 (he missed 28 games in 2023-24) could have slashed his value to $8M-$10M annually.

• Reciprocity: "Houston bet on me when no one else would. They gave me a chance to prove I’m still a starting-caliber center," he said. "When they offered the extension, I didn’t need to shop around—this is where I belong."

The Numbers Behind the Sacrifice