If Steven Adams has changed anything about his free throw approach, neither he nor Thunder coach Billy Donovan is letting on.
Adams remained vague on the subject after joking that he closed his eyes and aimed for the top right-hand corner of the backboard in a 5-of-6 free throw performance Sunday.
“Just sticking with the routine, bro,” Adams continued. “Just trying to stick with one routine and not to think about it too much.”
All six of Adams’s free throws came in the last three minutes of the Thunder’s 107-104 win at New Orleans. In Adams’s postgame interview with sideline reporter Nick Gallo on the Fox Sports Oklahoma broadcast, Thunder guard Dennis Schroder stood in the background, miming Adams's free throw motion. That’s how clutch those shots were.
And they came from a player who made just one of his six free throws in the Thunder’s first game of the season.
Through OKC's first eight games, Adams shot just 25 percent from the free throw line. Through the first 14, he was still shooting under 30 percent.
Then, against the Lakers a week and a half ago, Adams made all four of his foul shots.
“He works hard at it, I’ll tell you that,” Donovan said two days later. “I mean after practices, before practices, he’s in here getting free throws up. So, I think he’s done a good job just trying to stay on top of it.”
After stringing a few solid free throw performances together, including Adams’s clutch shooting from the line Sunday, Adams is shooting 46.3 percent from the charity stripe this season. He’s a career 55.1 percent career free throw shooter.
<figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-ee489c2f72a1aa396c23f28f43102ff1.jpg" alt="Photo - Steven Adams (12) poses for a photo during the Oklahoma City Thunder media day at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman]
" title="Steven Adams (12) poses for a photo during the Oklahoma City Thunder media day at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman]
"><figcaption>Steven Adams (12) poses for a photo during the Oklahoma City Thunder media day at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman]
</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-1ad15daeebb9a273d7a8307001e0458d.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) blocks a shot by New Orleans Pelicans center Jahlil Okafor (8) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)" title="Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) blocks a shot by New Orleans Pelicans center Jahlil Okafor (8) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)"><figcaption>Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) blocks a shot by New Orleans Pelicans center Jahlil Okafor (8) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-622084e932bc366ce351d8042b609ed9.jpg" alt="Photo - New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) blocks a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)" title="New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) blocks a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)"><figcaption>New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) blocks a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-00abb5410e83884de6d1ed40591184da.jpg" alt="Photo - New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) slam-dunks over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)" title="New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) slam-dunks over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)"><figcaption>New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) slam-dunks over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-0290e441f9b1ddffefbd38844d222035.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City Thunder forward Danilo Gallinari (8) celebrates a three-point basket with guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chris Paul (3) in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)" title="Oklahoma City Thunder forward Danilo Gallinari (8) celebrates a three-point basket with guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chris Paul (3) in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)"><figcaption>Oklahoma City Thunder forward Danilo Gallinari (8) celebrates a three-point basket with guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chris Paul (3) in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-7e8440ca7177d86d2101179a5ab16121.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul reacts after taking a hand to the face and drawing a foul in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. The Thunder won 107-104. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)" title="Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul reacts after taking a hand to the face and drawing a foul in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. The Thunder won 107-104. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)"><figcaption>Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul reacts after taking a hand to the face and drawing a foul in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. The Thunder won 107-104. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-11074860ca444ba42e76372eb90853c7.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) battles under the basket with New Orleans Pelicans guard Josh Hart (3) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)" title="Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) battles under the basket with New Orleans Pelicans guard Josh Hart (3) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)"><figcaption>Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) battles under the basket with New Orleans Pelicans guard Josh Hart (3) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-64ce2e4219d362d6fe8371f3ffcafd33.jpg" alt="Photo - New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) blocks a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)" title="New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) blocks a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)"><figcaption>New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) blocks a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-4f8848e46b33b2b9c12410e576d0a5ed.jpg" alt="Photo - New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) goes to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder center Nerlens Noel (9) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)" title="New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) goes to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder center Nerlens Noel (9) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)"><figcaption>New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) goes to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder center Nerlens Noel (9) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-c6b9a00a96b88076d1a73e0e7496724e.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley (7) is stopped as he drives to the basket between New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes (10) and guard Lonzo Ball (2) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. The Thunder won 107-104. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)" title="Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley (7) is stopped as he drives to the basket between New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes (10) and guard Lonzo Ball (2) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. The Thunder won 107-104. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)"><figcaption>Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley (7) is stopped as he drives to the basket between New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes (10) and guard Lonzo Ball (2) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. The Thunder won 107-104. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-6557e2225e5e7f2c15238faa1e5a0e45.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder (17) goes to the basket in front of New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. The Thunder won 107-104. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)" title="Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder (17) goes to the basket in front of New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. The Thunder won 107-104. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)"><figcaption>Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder (17) goes to the basket in front of New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. The Thunder won 107-104. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-9f765bb3d38104556a929853f926337a.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan shouts from the bench in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)" title="Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan shouts from the bench in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)"><figcaption>Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan shouts from the bench in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-cc64ff10d1c29792979a994e18c0a57e.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley (7) is stopped as he drives to the basket between New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball (2) and center Jaxson Hayes (10) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)" title="Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley (7) is stopped as he drives to the basket between New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball (2) and center Jaxson Hayes (10) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)"><figcaption>Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley (7) is stopped as he drives to the basket between New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball (2) and center Jaxson Hayes (10) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-36d9c44d6baa0e977da3dfeca3636c56.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes to the basket between New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes (10) and guard JJ Redick (4) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)" title="Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes to the basket between New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes (10) and guard JJ Redick (4) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)"><figcaption>Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes to the basket between New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes (10) and guard JJ Redick (4) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-6239c5cf0e62dc82be643d0f3f1d4d64.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul reacts after taking a hand to the face and drawing a foul in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. The Thunder won 107-104. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)" title="Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul reacts after taking a hand to the face and drawing a foul in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. The Thunder won 107-104. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)"><figcaption>Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul reacts after taking a hand to the face and drawing a foul in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. The Thunder won 107-104. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-a0521bc4c870de1622eada52a03293ea.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes to the basket between New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes (10) and forward Brandon Ingram (14) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)" title="Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes to the basket between New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes (10) and forward Brandon Ingram (14) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)"><figcaption>Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes to the basket between New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes (10) and forward Brandon Ingram (14) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-53915c8055a2157991afaa2c62e8d70e.jpg" alt="Photo - New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Terrance Ferguson (23) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. The Thunder won 107-104. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)" title="New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Terrance Ferguson (23) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. The Thunder won 107-104. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)"><figcaption>New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Terrance Ferguson (23) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. The Thunder won 107-104. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-bb00d1d68215f2e9e045603f34679c9c.jpg" alt="Photo - New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) blocks a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder (17) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. The Thunder won 107-104. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)" title="New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) blocks a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder (17) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. The Thunder won 107-104. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)"><figcaption>New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) blocks a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder (17) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. The Thunder won 107-104. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)</figcaption></figure>
Maddie Lee
Maddie Lee followed an NBA team from Seattle to Oklahoma City, she just took a 10-year detour in between. Lee joined the Oklahoman in October 2018 as a Thunder beat writer, fresh off a stint in Oxford, Miss., where she covered Ole Miss for the...
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![Steven Adams (12) poses for a photo during the Oklahoma City Thunder media day at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman]](http://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/large960_blur-ee489c2f72a1aa396c23f28f43102ff1.jpg)
