The launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 could have an unexpected impact on the NBA this November. NBA veteran Steven Adams has joked that players across the league could start performing worse once Rockstar Games’ massive open-world game arrives.
With GTA 6 launching November 19, 2026, the timing puts the game right in the middle of the NBA regular season. For professional basketball players who also happen to be gamers, Adams appears to believe that could be a dangerous combination.
Steven Adams Predicts a Rough November for NBA Players
Adams stated that the release of GTA 6 could result in worse performances from NBA players throughout November.
The reason is fairly straightforward: people are going to want to play it.
Professional athletes might have carefully managed training schedules, recovery sessions, travel plans and games, but they are still gamers like everyone else. GTA 6 is expected to be one of the biggest entertainment launches of the year, and NBA players will not be immune to the hype.
Late-night sessions exploring Vice City could suddenly become a little more tempting than getting those extra hours of sleep before practice.
Adams’ comments appear to be made in good fun rather than as a serious warning, but there is certainly some logic behind the joke.
GTA 6 Launches Right in the Middle of the NBA Season
November 19 is hardly an ideal date for NBA players hoping to disappear into GTA 6 for several days.
By that point, the 2026-27 NBA season will already be underway. Players will be dealing with games, practices, travel and recovery while millions of gamers around the world start exploring Rockstar’s new version of Vice City.
Unlike a game released during the NBA offseason, there will be little opportunity for players to simply clear their schedules.
That creates the amusing possibility of NBA coaches wondering why some of their players suddenly look exhausted during morning practice on November 20.
The answer might be sitting on their PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S.
GTA 6 Is Bigger Than Just Another Game Launch
Adams’ comments also demonstrate just how enormous the GTA 6 launch has become.
Grand Theft Auto has long crossed the boundary between gaming and mainstream entertainment. GTA 5 became one of the most successful entertainment products ever released, while GTA Online helped keep the game relevant for more than a decade.
Expectations surrounding GTA 6 are consequently enormous.
Rockstar has spent years developing the next entry, and anticipation has only increased as the release date gets closer. The game will initially launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with millions of players expected to jump in as soon as it becomes available.
NBA athletes will apparently be among them.
NBA Players Gaming Is Nothing New
Gaming has also become deeply connected with professional basketball culture.
Numerous NBA players regularly talk about the games they play, stream during their spare time or participate in gaming-related events. Some have become heavily involved with esports and gaming communities outside basketball.
That makes Adams’ prediction particularly entertaining.
There are almost certainly NBA players already planning how they are going to fit GTA 6 around their professional schedules.
For most players, that probably means waiting until after practice or games.
For others, November 20 could involve a lot of coffee.
GTA 6 Could Take Over November
The joke ultimately highlights something much bigger about Rockstar’s upcoming release.
GTA 6 is not expected to simply dominate gaming conversations when it launches. It could become one of those rare releases that temporarily takes over popular culture.
Schools, workplaces, Discord servers, Twitch streams and social media will likely be filled with GTA 6 discussions immediately after launch.
Apparently, NBA locker rooms could be added to that list.
Whether GTA 6 actually causes NBA performances to drop is another matter entirely, but Adams has already given basketball fans something entertaining to watch for.
If your favorite player suddenly has a terrible game shortly after November 19, perhaps checking their GTA 6 playtime should be the first investigation.
