NBA GMs vote Adams as league ’tough guy’

THE NBA’s General Managers would appear to be firm on this one – Kiwi centre Steven Adams is the toughest guy in their league.

For the second straight year, the 27-year-old New Zealander, who is about to suit up for his first season with the New Orleans Pelicans, was voted ‘‘toughest’’ player in NBA.com’s annual General Managers’ survey.

A total of 32 per cent of the GMs surveyed rated Adams the hardest nut in the league, which placed him ahead of the

Houston Rockets’ PJ Tucker (25 per cent) and Miami’s Jimmy Butler and Boston’s Marcus Smart, who tied for third on 14 per cent.

The Pelicans will certainly be hoping their new acquisition lives up to his reputation after they acquired him from the Oklahoma City Thunder.

New Orleans immediately signed the 2.11m seven-year NBA vet to a two-year NZ$50m extension that will likely keep him at the Pelicans for at least the next three seasons.

Headed by 2019 No 1 draft pick Zion Williamson, the longlimbed Brandon Ingram and point guard Lonzo Ball, the Pelicans have a young core that will benefit from any veteran leadership they can get.

The Pelicans wrapped up their pre-season yesterday with a 127-113 home victory over the Milwaukee Bucks to finish 2-0 for the buildup phase.

The Kiwi centre had 6 points (3/6 FG), 9 rebounds and 2 assists in 23 minutes as New Orleans were led by a standout 31 points (12/22 FG) and 9 boards in 34 minutes by star forward Williamson.