Steven Adams is New Zealand's rising NBA star whose life mission is to make the lives of Australians miserable - and it's all Greg Chappell's fault.



More than 32 years after Greg Chappell ordered his younger brother Trevor to deliver an underarm ball to hand victory to Australia, the hatred burns as strong as ever, according to the 213-centimetre-tall star.



Despite being born 12 years after the controversial incident that strained relations between the neighbouring nations, Adams says it is his mission "to make Aussies miserable" whenever he comes across them.



He took that mentality into last week's clash with Boomers centre Andrew Bogut when Adams' Oklahoma City Thunder took on the Golden State Warriors.



Adams, who was selected with the 12th pick of this year's draft and is fast making a name for himself on one of the NBA's best teams, got physical with Bogut in the game, won 116-115 by the Warriors.



They had to be separated on occasion as referees threatened technical fouls against the pair.



It all comes back to the underarm delivery, with New Zealand tailender Brian McKechnie needing an unlikely six off the last ball for a famous victory.



The wounds haven't healed.



"They cheated us from winning," Adams, the brother of Olympic gold-medallist shot-putter Valerie Adams, told reporters.



"So from then on it just doesn't matter how nice you are - if you're an Aussie, we're not going to like you.



"I search out Aussies and make it my job to make their lives miserable."



At just 20, Adams could prove to be a major player in the Boomers-Tall Blacks rivalry, and should get plenty of chances to tussle with the 28-year-old Bogut on the international stage.