The Houston Rockets kicked off the NBA’s 2026 training camp season with media day on Tuesday, a traditional moment of excitement as players return in peak condition after summer workouts focused on enhancing their skills. Coaches, having studied past game footage, are eager to build on last season’s progress and push the team forward in the upcoming year.
While media day interviews typically follow a predictable pattern, Steven Adams stood out by making a candid and humorous prediction: he expects a significant drop in performance across sports leagues, including the NBA and NFL, in November. His reason? The release of the highly anticipated video game “Grand Theft Auto 6.”
Adams explained, “November performance across leagues is gonna plummet because GTA is dropping. Watch the NFL and other sports; things will slow down for the month. Even coaches and scouts will be off their game. Hopefully, things will bounce back by December once most have finished playing.” Adams’ insight reveals his understanding of gaming’s deep influence on players and staff alike.
This isn’t just speculation; Adams has been around long enough to recognize the growing impact of gaming culture. While annual releases like “Call of Duty” catch players’ attention, the release of “GTA 6” — the first new installment since “GTA 5” came out 13 years ago — represents a gaming event on a completely different scale. He predicts it will cause distractions not only among players but also coaches and scouts, affecting the entire sports landscape.
The human factor in sports is often underestimated, especially how off-court activities influence on-court performance. Adams’ forecast suggests this particular game release could create a rare, collective dip in focus across all levels of professional sports.
Since “GTA 5” launched in mid-September 2013, and no direct performance comparisons exist for that time, it will be interesting to see if late November 2026 shows any noticeable decline in play quality as athletes and staff dive into the new game.
Fan Take: Steven Adams’ prediction is a fascinating reminder of how cultural phenomena beyond basketball can ripple into the sport. If “GTA 6” really causes a temporary slowdown, it could spark an important conversation about balancing personal interests with professional demands in the NBA.
Source: www.cbssports.com
