NBA athlete Steven Adams stated that the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 will result in worse play from other pro basketball players throughout November. Adams’ statement came less than two months before GTA 6 is slated to arrive on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 19.
It’s no secret that GTA 6 is the most anticipated game of 2026, with pre-orders now available on the PlayStation and Xbox storefronts. The anticipation surrounding Rockstar Games’ open-world title has already made an impact on console sales, as PS5 Pro systems are selling out quickly due to it being the most powerful console that can play GTA 6 at launch. With Rockstar also ramping up its promotional campaign efforts, the upcoming game is expected to sell millions of units across the globe this fall.
Steven Adams Says Performance Will “Plummet” Because of GTA 6
However, one NBA star said that the arrival of GTA 6 could see some athletes struggle for a few games. Houston Rockets center Steven Williams said during the team’s media day session on September 22 that he expects performance to “plummet” throughout November. The New Zealand athlete claimed that players throughout each professional sport would have worse performance due to playing GTA 6. Adams added that coaching performance across the board could be impacted by the game’s arrival. Although his comments were more of a joke than a serious proclamation, the Houston center said that any struggles that could result from players and coaches spending too much time in Vice City would be temporary.
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Image via Rockstar Games -
Image via Rockstar Games -
Rockstar Games
Now in his 13th season in the NBA, Adams joined the Houston Rockets in 2024, following previous stints in Oklahoma City, New Orleans, and Memphis. Despite seeing limited game time, the New Zealand star managed 8.6 rebounds per game throughout the 2025-26 NBA season. His defensive style as a center is reflected in NBA 2K27, where he currently holds an overall player rating of 74 and an impressive 98 rating in offensive rebounds. The Rockets will start the 2026-27 NBA season at home on October 21, as they host their cross-state rivals, the Dallas Mavericks. As of this writing, Adams was uncertain when he would return to the court after undergoing season-ending left ankle surgery in January 2026.
Adams’ comments on GTA 6 came one month after Rockstar Games’ parent company, Take-Two Interactive, revealed an upcoming crossover. NBA 2K27‘s Season 3 will be themed around GTA 6, though a precise release date was not revealed. Given that NBA 2K27‘s Season 2 will begin in October, it is likely that the GTA 6 crossover will be timed to match the latter’s release date.
As for the launch of GTA 6, the game will have a tangible impact on businesses across the US. In June, Burger Motorsports of California stated that daily customer service operations will be slower than usual as employees take time off to play Rockstar’s upcoming game. The motorsport company said that operations should resume days later. Given that even small businesses may see individual staff members request time off around November 19, it remains to be seen how much of a hit the US economy will take as a result of GTA 6‘s launch.
- Released
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November 19, 2026
- ESRB
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Rating Pending – Likely Mature 17+