Thunder’s Steven Adams apologizes for ‘monkeys’ comment

OAKLAND, Calif. – Oklahoma City center Steven Adams understands that he has to live with the fallout of using a derogatory term to describe Golden State’s guards.

Adams apologized again Tuesday for describing them as “quick little monkeys” in a televised on-court interview after Oklahoma City’s 108-102 win in Game 1 of the Western Conference final on Monday night.

“I’ve already apologized for it,” Adams said. “I can’t apologize enough through another apology. I’m just trying to focus on the playoffs now and kind of just move forward. Obviously it was a mistake but yeah, I’ve just got to live with the consequences. I know now.”

Adams, from New Zealand, had told USA Today Sports that differences in the use of language in his home country led to his poor choice of words. He came to the U.S. in 2012 to attend college and play basketball at Pittsburgh.

In his initial apology, Adams said he “was just trying to express how difficult it was chasing those guys around.”

“It’s just different, mate,” Adams told USA Today Sports. “Different words, different expressions, and stuff like that. But they obviously can be taken differently, depending on which country you’re in. I’m assimilating, mate, still trying to figure out the boundaries. But I definitely overstepped them tonight.”

Adams comes from a very multicultural background. His father is from England, his mother from Tonga and he grew up in New Zealand.

In New Zealand, the term “little monkey” is often used to describe the antics of children. It’s less frequently used when talking about adults, but generally wouldn’t be considered offensive. However, it’s widely considered to be a taboo, racially insensitive term in the U.S.