Adams has never entered the free market in his 14-year career, and has been locked in advance by the Rockets

On June 15, Shams, a well-known NBA reporter, broke the news: The Houston Rockets reached a three-year, $39 million early contract renewal with tough center Steven Adams. The signing brought the New Zealand giant's NBA career total salary to an astonishing $210 million, and an even more amazing record emerged - in 14 years of career, Adams has never entered the free agent market.

Including this contract renewal with the Rockets, Adams' four career contract renewals are all "pre-locked": from the Oklahoma City Thunder's persistence to the trust of the New Orleans Pelicans, the seamless connection when they switched to the Memphis Grizzlies, and until the Rockets' decisive move now. His career seemed to have installed the "automatic renewal" function, and the door to the free market has never been opened to him.

What did Adams rely on to become the "not-selling product" that the team competed for? The answer is hidden in those corners where data cannot be fully reflected. His rock-like screen quality is a solid ladder for guards to break through; his accurate prediction of rebounding points and strong positioning create countless second-offensive opportunities for teammates; his tough defense and court style inject indispensable resilience into the team. Even though the offensive end is not the core, Adams wrote his own "alternative maximum salary" story in the NBA with his top blue-collar traits.

From the reputation of "Aquaman" during the Thunder period, to the stable contributions of the Pelicans and Grizzlies, to now becoming an experienced mentor and inside barrier that the Rockets Youth Army urgently needs, Adams' value has become new for a long time. The Rockets' early renewal is not only a vote of confidence in his condition after he recovers from injury, but also a reaffirmation of the scarce traditional insider value like him.

In the era of three-pointers, Adams built a "blue-collar fortress" for himself with solid cover, tough rebounds and selfless team spirit. As the hustle and bustle of the free market is staged year after year, Adams quietly proves in his own way: hard kung fu on the court is always the hard currency worth investing in.