There's something inherently absurd about video games coming up at a press conference. Houston Rockets center Steven Adams was asked about the upcoming season, but instead steered the conversation toward something else entirely: Grand Theft Auto 6.
"League-wide performance is going to drop because GTA 6 is coming out," Adams told reporters. "Look at the NFL, look at other leagues, everyone's numbers are going to tank." He followed up with a slightly self-deprecating prediction: "Things should level out by December, most people will probably have beaten the game by then. Same goes for the coaching staff — scouting reports in November are probably going to be rough."
GTA 6 is set to launch on November 19, thirteen years after its predecessor, with pre-orders reportedly already surpassing 4 million units. The game is also widely regarded as one of the most expensive video games ever developed. Even Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick made a similar remark publicly earlier this year: "I think a lot of people are going to call in sick on November 19th." With the boss himself making that prediction, Adams's comments start to sound a lot less like a joke.
Video games distracting professional athletes is nothing new. Back in 2021, former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho ripped into Fortnite as a "nightmare" in a viral clip, complaining that players stayed up all night gaming only to have to compete the next day. Harry Kane, also a known Fortnite fan, tells a different story — he's said that gaming online with his England teammates actually helped him perform well at the 2018 World Cup. Whether video games are a distraction or a team-bonding tool is a debate that's never really been settled.
34-Track GTA6 Soundtrack: Limited Vinyl Already Scalped for 3x Price
Last week, Rockstar Games and Atlantic Records announced a collaboration on Grand Theft Auto 6: The Album, featuring 34 exclusive tracks. The full tracklist hasn't been released yet, but confirmed artists so far include Travis Scott, Future, Fred again.., Morgan Wallen, Pink Pantheress, and Keith Richards. Besides streaming, the album will also come out on multiple CD and vinyl editions — though some limited-edition versions haven't even officially gone on sale yet, resellers are already listing them for triple the original price.
