BROOKLYN, N.Y.—University of Pittsburgh freshman Steven Adams (Rotorua, New Zealand/Notre Dame Prep, Mass.) was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the No. 12 pick in Thursday evening’s 2013 NBA Draft. An NBA lottery pick, Adams becomes the first Pitt player drafted in the first round since the Indiana Pacers selected Vonteego Cummings at No. 26 in 1999. His selection at No. 12 marks the second highest NBA Draft pick for a Pitt player behind Charles Smith, who was taken at No. 3 in 1988.
Adams, who was joined at the Barclays Center by Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon, was called to the stage at approximately 8:49 p.m. ET. He was handed an Oklahoma City Thunder hat, then proceeded to the stage for a photo opportunity with outgoing NBA Commissioner David Stern. He then conducted a live ESPN interview with Shane Battier, where viewers saw his jacket featuring a New Zealand flag.
The 7-foot, 250-pound Adams becomes the seventh Pitt player selected in either the NBA or ABA Draft First Round and the 28th overall Panthers player taken in a professional basketball draft. He is the second New Zealand native to be selected in the NBA Draft and the first-ever Kiwi to be picked in the first round. Adams will become only the fourth New Zealand born player to have played in the NBA, joining Aron Baynes (San Antonio Spurs), Sean Marks (Miami Heat, New Orleans Hornets, Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns and Portland Trailblazers) and Kirk Penney (Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat).
A Big East All-Rookie Team selection, Adams led the 2012-13 Panthers in blocked shots (65), rebounding (6.3 rpg.) and field goal percentage (.571), and also contributed 7.2 points per game. While starting all 32 of his games played in 2012-13, Adams totaled two double-doubles, six double figure scoring games and five 10-plus rebound games. He concluded his freshman season ranked among school freshman leaders in several statistical categories including games started (2nd), field goal percentage (1st), rebounds (6th), rebound average (7th), percentage of starts (1st), blocked shots (2nd) and blocked shots average (3rd).
During his one-year stint, Adams helped guide Pitt to a fourth place Big East finish with a 12-6 conference record and a 24-9 overall record. The “Kiwi Phenom” also helped Pitt qualify for its 11th NCAA Tournament appearance in the last 12 seasons. Pitt is one of only seven schools to advance to the NCAA Tournament in 11 of the last 12 seasons.
With the selection, Adams becomes Pitt’s fourth current NBA player along with Aaron Gray (Toronto Raptors), DeJuan Blair (San Antonio Spurs) and Sam Young (Indiana Pacers).
PITT’S ALL-TIME FIRST ROUND NBA/ABA DRAFT PICKS (7)
Player
Pick
Year
Drafting Team
Billy Knight
6th – ABA
1974
Indiana Pacers
Mel Bennett
10th- ABA
1975
Virginia Squires
Charles Smith
3rd
1988
Philadelphia 76ers
Jerome Lane
23rd
1988
Denver Nuggets
Eric Mobley
18th
1994
Milwaukee Bucks
Vonteego Cummings
26th
1999
Indiana Pacers
Steven Adams
12th
2013
Oklahoma City Thunder
PITT’S ALL-TIME NBA/ABA DRAFT PICKS (28)
Year
Player
Round
Pick
Drafting Team
1954
Clarence “Dutch” Burch
5th
40
Fort Wayne Pistons
1957
Bob Lazor
9th
66
Detroit Pistons
1958
Julius Pegues
4th
31
St. Louis Hawks
1959
Don Hennon
6th
41
Cincinnati Royals
1964
Brian Generalovich
3rd
19
New York Knicks
1974
Billy Knight
1st
6
Indiana Pacers (ABA)
Billy Knight
2nd
21
Los Angeles Lakers
Mickey Martin
4th
69
Detroit Pistons
1975
Mel Bennett
1st
10
Virginia Squires (ABA)
Kirk Bruce
8th
76
Utah Stars (ABA)
1976
Keith Starr
4th
56
Chicago Bulls
1978
Larry Harris
4th
73
Buffalo Braves
1979
Terry Knight
6th
125
San Antonio Spurs
1980
Sammie Ellis
4th
73
Denver Nuggets
1981
Carlton Neverson
3rd
56
Golden State Warriors
Sam Clancy
3rd
62
Phoenix Suns
1983
Trent Johnson
8th
83
Boston Celtics
1984
Clyde Vaughan
6th
117
Indiana Pacers
1988
Charles Smith
1st
3
Philadelphia 76ers%
Jerome Lane
1st
23
Denver Nuggets
1992
Darren Morningstar
2nd
47
Boston Celtics
1994
Eric Mobley
1st
18
Milwaukee Bucks
1996
Mark Blount
2nd
55
Seattle Supersonics
1999
Vonteego Cummings
1st
26
Indiana Pacers*
2005
Chris Taft
2nd
42
Golden State Warriors
2007
Aaron Gray
2nd
49
Chicago Bulls
2009
Sam Young
2nd
36
Memphis Grizzlies
DeJuan Blair
2nd
37
San Antonio Spurs
2013
Steven Adams
1st
12
Oklahoma City Thunder
%traded on draft day to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of a three-team deal
*traded on draft day to Golden State Warriors