NBA Star Predicts GTA 6 Will Tank Pro Sports in November

Steven Adams of the Houston Rockets says pro athletes will be too busy playing GTA 6 to perform at their best this November, joking that leagues will 'plummet'.

What if the biggest threat to your favorite sports team this November isn't injuries or trades—but GTA 6? Houston Rockets center Steven Adams thinks that's exactly what's going to happen. He recently predicted that professional sports leagues will see a noticeable dip in quality when the game launches, because athletes will be too busy grinding through it.

Speaking to the press, Adams didn't hold back: "Look at the NFL, look at all the leagues, and watch them plummet. Just for the month of November, performance is gonna go down." He's clearly joking—mostly—but the man has a point. GTA 6 is one of the most anticipated game releases ever, and plenty of pro athletes are just as hyped as the rest of us.

Adams didn't stop at player performance, either. He said coaching and scouting efforts will also take a hit, calling them "horrendous" for that month. But he's optimistic things will bounce back: "It should come back up though; most of the boys will get it done. Hopefully they finish the game." So basically, once everyone beats the story mode, sports can return to normal.

This isn't the first time video games have been blamed for on-field struggles. An NFL player previously pointed to gaming as the reason for his poor performance, and Cardinals QB Kyler Murray is well-known for his Call of Duty habit. Adams himself is a big gamer—he's name-dropped Dota 2 and Smite as favorites, telling TMZ, "I'm more of a nerd." So he knows what he's talking about.

GTA 6 launches on November 19, which is shaping up to be a dangerous day for sports. The Rockets don't play that day, but there are four NBA games on the schedule. It's also a Week 11 Thursday Night Football day, so the NFL will be in action too. If Adams' prediction holds, we might see some unusually sloppy plays that night.

Of course, this is all in good fun. Adams is clearly having a laugh, but the hype around GTA 6 is very real. Will athletes really let the game affect their jobs? We'll have to check back in November and see if stats take a nosedive. Until then, it's anyone's guess.

What do you think—will GTA 6 actually mess with pro sports this November? Or are athletes too professional to let a game get in the way? Let us know in the comments!