Tokyo Olympics: Kiwi NBA star Steven Adams watching 'very closely' as two sisters gear up for Olympics, Paralympics

Kiwi NBA star Steven Adams will have one eye on the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, with not one but two of his sisters competing.

With the Tokyo Olympics now just a week away, the New Zealand contingent are arriving in the Japanese capital ahead of the start of the games.

Among them will be both Dame Valerie Adams and younger sister Lisa Adams.

Dame Valerie, 36, will compete in the shot put at her fifth Olympic Games, while 30-year-old Lisa will represent New Zealand for the first time at the Paralympics, in the F37 shot put.

Dame Valerie is looking for a fourth Olympic medal, winning gold in Beijing in 2008 and London 2012, as well as a silver in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Lisa Adams holds the world record in the F37 category, after throwing 15.28m in September 2020, and is coached by older sister Dame Valerie.

And despite being in his NBA off-season with New Orleans Pelicans, 27-year-old Steven Adams will be supporting his older sisters from afar.

"I'm definitely following her," Steven Adams told Magic Talk of older sister Dame Valerie. 

"My other sister, Lisa, is also participating in the Paralympics. I'll be watching those two very closely."

The Tokyo Olympics officially begin on July 23, while the Paralympics begin on August 24.

Adams is preparing for his second season with the Pelicans, after being traded from Oklahoma City Thunder ahead of the 2020/21 season.

The NBA's only Kiwi averaged 8.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game in his first season in a Pelicans jersey, up on his career averages of 7.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

However, Adams' numbers in points, 7.6 per game, is down on his career average of 9.6.

The Pelicans finished 11th in the NBA's Western Conference, missing out on the 2020/21 season playoffs, winning 31 and losing 41 of their regular season games.

"It's the same stuff, just down the road," Adams says of his move.

"It was a big change, just because Oklahoma City [Thunder] drafted me, so I kind of called that place home for seven years or whatever.

"I had my routine and whatnot. It was a weird change."

Bridge will attempt to stay on-air for 36 hours non-stop to raise money for New Zealand's Child Cancer Foundation, from 6am Thursday through until 6pm Friday.

Donations to Bridge's cause can be made here.