Steven Adams pens heartwarming note expressing his gratitude to Houston Rockets amid free agency rumors

Houston Rockets center Steven Adams shared a message on Instagram on Wednesday, expressing gratitude to Rockets fans and teammates.

Adams, an upcoming free agent, posted nine photos, most taken during the Rockets' grueling first-round series against the Golden State Warriors.

In the caption, he wrote:

"Houston, thank you. The energy, passion and unwavering support you brought to the arena this year were nothing short of incredible. I hope we represented this city with the pride and resilience that define what it means to be a Houstonian.

"Going to battle with the brothers was an honor. We fought with grit, heart and determination, displaying the kind of resilience that goes beyond the court. Proud of the boys and everything we learned together."

The Rockets were eliminated in the first round following a 103-89 Game 7 loss on Sunday at Toyota Center. Houston came back from being down 3-1 to force Game 7.

The 31-year-old Adams is in the final year of the two-year, $25.2 million veteran extension he signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022. He earned $12.6 million this season but did not play in 2023-24 due to a PCL injury.

The Rockets acquired the 6-foot-11 big man in February 2024 in exchange for Victor Oladipo and three future second-round picks.

Steven Adams makes history in Rockets' Game 6 win over Warriors

Steven Adams and the Houston Rockets were able to force a do-or-die Game 7 with a 115-107 Game 6 win over the Golden State Warriors at the hostile Chase Center in San Francisco, California.

While Fred VanVleet and Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 29 and 21 points, Adams had his best game as a Rocket. He contributed 17 points, five rebounds, and three blocks off the bench. He went 4-for-4 from the field and 9-for-16 from the free-throw line.

OptaStats, which analyzes data across different sports, tweeted that Adams became the first player in NBA history to record 100% shooting, have 15 or more free-throw attempts, three blocks and no turnovers.

Steven Adams played 58 games for Houston this season as a backup to Sengun, a first-time NBA All-Star. Adams is certainly on the short list of teams looking for a veteran center this offseason.