Steven Adams Prepares for Backup Center Role with Rockets After Injury-Plagued Season

Houston Rockets center Steven Adams is entering the 2026-2027 season as the primary backup to Alperen Şengün after an injury-hampered 2025-2026 campaign. Last season, Adams averaged 5.8 points and 8.6 rebounds across 22.8 minutes per game in 58 appearances, posting strong offensive rebounding metrics. The Rockets plan to manage his workload with rest days and minute restrictions on back-to-backs to preserve his health while leveraging his physical presence and defensive anchoring.