Steven Adams’ journey to becoming an NBA star wasn’t just shaped by basketball. Growing up in a family of 18 siblings with a father who stood 6’11” and a mother with Tongan roots, his path to success was influenced by more than just the sport.
Despite facing significant loss early in life, including the death of his father at 13, Adams found guidance through unexpected sources, eventually carving his own path in the world of professional basketball.
Who Is Steven Adams’ Father, Sid Adams?
His dad, Sid Adams, was born in Bristol, England, and later joined the merchant navy. While docked in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty, he decided to settle there.
Sid reportedly fathered 18 children with five women, though some say it could be as many as 21 with six women. Adams is the youngest. The family is known for its height — Sid was 6’11”, and his kids inherited those genes.
He shared his doubts about the number of brothers he has in his autobiography “My Life, My Fight.”
“No one knows for sure how many kids my dad had. If you ask anyone in the media they’ll say he had 18, or maybe even 20, but they won’t know where that number came from. If you ask my sister Viv, she’ll say it’s 16. I always thought there were 14 of us. Whatever the number, there will only ever be one Sid Adams,” Steven said.
In 2006, Sid died from stomach cancer, and at that time, Steven was only 13 years old. This loss deeply affected Steven, leading to a period of struggle and involvement with negative influences.
“When I lost my dad, that was a big hit for me. I didn’t have that parental guidance, and I kind of took advantage of it because I was a stupid idiot. I decided not to go to school a couple of times, go when I felt like it. I always lied to my brothers and sisters. They’d ask: ‘Are you going to school?’ I’d say ‘yeah.’ They eventually found out,” Steven said.
When his father died, Kenny McFadden came forward and became a father for him and later revealed that he was the one who put him in the basketball world.
“When my old man passed, when I was 13, he filled that role. He was a major father figure when I was 13. He got me into the whole basketball path and believed in me from the start. It’s all good stuff, man. I’m not the only one that he’s helped out. It’s sad but it’s also a pretty good celebration of his legacy. What he left behind amongst the kids that he’s helped. It’s good stuff,” Steven said.
Who Is Steven Adams’ Mother, Lilika Ngauamo?
Lilika Ngauamo was of Tongan descent and lived in New Zealand. She worked as a nurse and played a major role in raising the family. Her culture influenced her children deeply—Steven’s middle name, Funaki, is a traditional Tongan name.
Ngauamo had three children with Sid: Dame Valerie Adams, Lisa Adams, and Steven. While Steven made his name in the NBA, both of his sisters became world-class athletes. Dame Valerie is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion in the shot put. Lisa Adams is a Paralympic gold medalist in shot put and discus.
Ngauamo passed away from cancer in 2000. Her death left a lasting mark on her children. Dame Valerie once shared how her mother inspired her Olympic dreams:
“I lost my mum quite young. I remember sitting with her in her South Auckland hospice watching the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. She was so ill at the time, and I told her, ‘I’m going to be there. One day, I’m going to be there,'” she said.
“She could only nod, but I knew she heard me. And right then, dealing with the devastating loss of my mother, that was a fork in the road for me. There were two very different paths I could’ve taken, and I chose the path I chose.”
Steven’s path to the NBA was shaped by his large family and early struggles. His determination, along with mentorship and family support, played a crucial role in his rise to success.
