The launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 could have an unexpected effect on the NBA.
Speaking to reporters during media day on September 22, Houston Rockets center Steven Adams predicted that performance in the NBA will fall because of the release of Grand Theft Auto 6.
"You guys should anticipate November. The performance of the league, league-wide. GTA is dropping."
Adams did not limit his prediction to the NBA. He suggested that players across the NFL and other professional sports leagues could be distracted by GTA 6 when it launches on November 19.
According to Adams, the slump should only be temporary, with performances returning to normal once players have had time to get through the game.
Players And Coaches Will Be Distracted By GTA 6
The veteran basketball athlete also claimed that the problem would extend beyond the athletes themselves.
"Coaching as well, by the way," Adams continued, adding that coaches and scouts could also be "horrendous" during November.
Steven Adams has jokes at media day:
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) September 22, 2026
"I will say: you guys should anticipate November. The performance of the league, league-wide. GTA is dropping."pic.twitter.com/OIBnRbDFeL
There is some obvious reasoning behind Adams' prediction. GTA 6 has been in the making for more than a decade, with GTA 5 originally launching in 2013. The latest installment in the long-running series has also been delayed multiple times, with its release initially scheduled for 2025.
Rockstar is returning to Vice City in GTA 6 with a massive new open world, protagonists Jason and Lucia, and a level of detail that has already generated huge excitement following the game's trailers. After such a long wait, its eventual release will undoubtedly become a major gaming event.
Performances Will Return To Normal
"It should come back up, though," Adams added. He believes performances "should bounce back in December" after players and coaches "hopefully" complete the game.
That could take a while, though. GTA 6 is expected to be a massive game, with its main story reportedly taking up to 80 hours to complete. Rockstar has also confirmed that there will be a wide array of activities and missions to keep players occupied.
Of course, Adams' comments were made in jest, so it's very unlikely that players' performances will actually drop. Still, it would be funny to look back at his comments once November rolls around.