Steven Adams jokes GTA VI could affect sports performance

Houston Rockets center Steven Adams joked at the team’s media day that the November release of Grand Theft Auto VI could temporarily lower performance across professional sports, including among players, coaches and scouts. He predicted the dip would last through November and that performance would recover in December, but the remarks were a humorous forecast, not a report of an observed effect. The game is scheduled to arrive November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The NBA season is due to begin in October, so the release is expected during the campaign. Adams extended his prediction beyond basketball, naming the NFL and other leagues as well as coaching and scouting. He suggested that people across sports could be distracted by playing the game. Adams made the comments at the Rockets’ media day on September 22. His remarks were delivered jokingly, and the supplied reports do not establish that the game will affect athletes’ or staff members’ performance. Whether any change occurs after release would require performance evidence from a defined period and population; no such data is available in the reports.