The countdown to November 19 is on, and it's not just gamers who are marking their calendars. According to Houston Rockets center Steven Adams, the long-awaited release of Grand Theft Auto VI could wreak havoc on professional sports—specifically, on the performance of athletes across the NBA and NFL.
Speaking at Houston's media day, Adams didn't mince words when he predicted a league-wide slump once the iconic video game finally hits shelves. "I will say, you guys should anticipate November, the performance of the league, league-wide… GTA is dropping," Adams said, via CBS Sports. "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 didn't stop at players. He took aim at the entire ecosystem, suggesting that coaches and scouts would also be distracted. "Coaching as well, by the way. The coaching and scouts are gonna be horrendous, mate. Just for November, but it should bounce back in December, hopefully. Should be good."
The 2026-27 NBA season tips off on October 20 with a tripleheader, meaning just a month of play will occur before the gaming world's biggest release in over a decade. While Grand Theft Auto V dropped in 2013, Rockstar Games didn't confirm a sequel until February 2022, and multiple delays pushed the launch to November 19. The anticipation has reached a fever pitch, and Adams believes the timing couldn't be worse for professional sports.
Is there any historical precedent for this? It's tough to gauge whether GTA V impacted player performance during the 2013-14 season, but that hasn't stopped fans from weighing in on Adams' bold claim. One fan joked on X, "Someone needs to tell him about Kyler Murray's performance during COD releases/2xp weekends," while another quipped, "No one will notice. They'll be playing too."
Adams' comments have sparked a broader conversation about the intersection of gaming and elite athletics. While some dismiss it as a lighthearted media-day quip, others are already bracing for a November dip in stats. The timing is particularly interesting given the recent Swift effect on Kelce's resurgence, which shows how off-court distractions can sometimes fuel performance rather than hinder it.
But Adams seems convinced this is different. He's not alone in worrying about distractions—just look at the rough start for Aaron Rodgers or the painful homecoming for Baker Mayfield, both of which have been attributed to various off-field issues. For athletes who grew up with the GTA franchise, the allure of a new installment could prove irresistible.
Whether or not Adams' prediction comes true, his comments have added an unexpected layer of intrigue to the upcoming season. Fans will be watching closely, especially if their favorite teams stumble in November. And for those who play GTA themselves, they might just understand.
As the countdown to November 19 begins, one thing is certain: the sports world will be watching both the hardwood and the game consoles. Will performance plummet as Adams predicts, or will athletes prove they can handle the distraction? Only time—and the box scores—will tell.
