Steven Adams book aims to encourage young readers

A biography of NBA player, Rotorua's Steven Adams, is being aimed at encouraging more young people to start reading.

The Rotorua-born and raised basketballer is the subject of the new book Jammin' with Steven Adams compiled and written by Auckland's Tangaroa College teacher David Riley.

Mr Riley spent the last year and half documenting Adams' humble beginnings in Rotorua, his time living in Wellington, through to him being the first New Zealander picked in the first round of an NBA draft, to his on-court success with the Oklahoma Thunder.

This is the third book on inspiring Kiwi sports stars Mr Riley has written. He has previously written books on league player Benji Marshall and dual international rugby and league player Sonny Bill Williams.

"I'm a teacher and the kids I teach I watch them imitate these guys in the playground. The only biographies are written are for adults, yet these guys have some amazing and inspirational anecdotes," Mr Riley said.

" I love writing and reading and because I feel sorry for my students, especially boys who are falling behind in the reading statistics, when I take them into the library it's hard to find stuff for them they want to read about."

Mr Riley said Adams was supportive of the book, which he self-funded and wrote while teaching full time.

"I Facebooked him and I didn't think it would get through because he has millions of friends but I asked if he would mind if I got in touch with friends and family and he said, 'Go for it.'

"He was really happy and that's awesome to have the support of the person you're writing about," he said.

"He is inspirational, he shows that there's always a chance for a bright future and the people around you who care and love you will probably be the ones to help you."

Jammin' with Steven Adams is aimed at the teenage reader, but Mr Riley said many adults also found the book interesting.

"His sister Gabby sent me a text and said that [Adams] really loves it, she was really overwhelmed about the book," Mr Riley said.

"It has been challenging because it's not a business, I pay for everything, so I have to really hustle to get as many photos as I can. A lot from the NBA I was able to get for free but others I had to pay for, the front cover was about $250."

Mr Riley is now writing a collection of profiles on Samoan high achievers including actor Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson, boxer David Tua and those succeeding in the medical field.

Jammin' with Steven Adams is available for $25 by emailing Mr Riley at davidrileynz@gmail.com, or via his website, www.readingwarrior.com.