Steven Adams Jokes Grand Theft Auto VI Will Result in Performance Declines from NBA, NFL Players

Houston Rockets center Steven Adams is theorizing that the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto VI will distract players and coaches across sports this fall.

"You guys should anticipate November. The performance of the league, league-wide— GTA is dropping," Adams joked during the Rockets' Tuesday media day. "So look at NFL, look at all the leagues, and watch them plummet, mate."

"Just for the month of November, performance is gonna go down," Adams continued. "It should come back up, though. Most of the boys will get it done. Hopefully they finish the game.

"Coaching as well, by the way. The coaching and scouts are going to be horrendous, just for November, but it should bounce back in December, hopefully."

GTA VI is set to release Nov. 19, about a month after the start of the NBA regular season.

Rockstar Games celebrated the lead-up to the release by announcing last week the game will be accompanied by a 34-track album, of which six singles are currently available.

The upcoming game and album are being released simultaneously more than 13 years after GTA V dropped in September 2013.

Multiple NBA stars including Cooper Flagg and LeBron James have expressed their excitement for the next installment since GTA VI was first announced in December 2023 with an initial release target of 2025.

Adams isn't the first player to discuss the impact of the release on fall sports. New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye told WEEI earlier this month he might wait until "a break or bye week" to start playing the game.

The GTA VI release is scheduled during the Patriots' upcoming Week 11 bye, with the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks also set to be off.

Adams is heading into his third season with the Rockets after missing a chunk of last season following season-ending ankle surgery in February.