Steven Adams is back on the floor for Houston, but the bigger question hanging over the Rockets is how carefully they can manage him from here.
After the team acquired Adams on February 1st, 2024, there was plenty for Houston to like. He came in with a reputation as a fan favorite and gave the Rockets another option at center.
But durability has been the concern. Over the past two seasons, Adams has appeared in just 97 games, including seven playoff games.
That reality is why his status matters so much in Houston. He was widely viewed as an important part of the roster, and once he was ruled out for the season in January, he was also tied to the Rockets’ struggles last year. It’s fair to say his presence might have helped with frontcourt depth in the postseason stretch, even if Houston had bigger problems than that.
His return came in Saturday’s 114-110 win against the Spurs, when he finally made his regular-season debut. Adams finished with 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in 9 minutes.
Considering the injury recovery and the fact that he turned 33 in July, it was a solid showing. He was listed as a game-time decision and got the green light right before tipoff.
That debut also puts his place in Houston’s long-term picture back in focus. The Rockets are a younger team, so the fit question is obvious: does Adams still line up with what they’re building?
The veteran value is easy to see. He brings leadership and has shown he can be a strong voice on the bench.
But health is the first thing any team needs, and with Adams, that has become the constant concern.
When Adams has played in 2025-26, he has averaged 5.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. If he can stay on the floor and keep producing at that level, he should absolutely remain part of the mix. If the calf issues keep turning him into a game-time call, Houston may end up looking around for more center depth.
For now, the Rockets are 2-0 after two convincing wins over solid Texas teams. Their next two games are against Atlanta, first on the road and then back home. That gives Houston another chance to keep rolling, and Adams another chance to show he can hold up as part of the start they’ve built.
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Ime Udoka is expected to offer a more detailed update before Monday nights game against the Hawks, which should give a better sense of where Adams stands in the recovery process. For a team that has been careful managing his workload, the next timeline matters, because Houston has not had many chances to build continuity with its interior depth intact. [Read more 🡒]