On 27th April 2021, an 18-year old wiry Australian declared for the NBA draft. He was widely expected to be a lottery pick and touted to be the next superstar to come out of the National Basketball League of Australia. Consequently, on 29th July, the Oklahoma City Thunder picked Josh Giddey with their #6 pick.
An anti-climactic injury followed in the NBA Summer League. Subsequently, as a precautionary measure, he sat out the rest of the offseason league. He made his NBA debut against Utah Jazz scoring 4 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists in a disappointing loss.
He was slotted behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the backup point guard in a very young Thunder rotation. As Giddey settled to life in the NBA and gained consistent minutes, his impact on games grew. What followed was Giddey wiping out a slew of long-standing records.
Starting 53 out of 58 league games, at the time of writing, the rookie has fit in like a glove at his new team. Playing as the shooting guard for most of his games alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he has consistently put up solid numbers. In his 53 games, he has recorded 12.4 points and an excellent 6.4 assists per game.
Rookie of the Year, Josh Giddey?
As Evan Mobley set the East alight with his Cavaliers side, Giddey continued to lead the rookies in the Western Conference. As a result, the Oklahoma guard won Western Conference Rookie of the Month for October, November, December, and January.
He recorded his first double-double in a game against the Lakers with 18 points and 10 assists. In the process, he became only the second-youngest player to do so, behind his opponent, LeBron James.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s injury has allowed Josh Giddey to be the primary ball-handler and he has risen to the occasion. He became the youngest to ever record a triple-double with 17 points, 14 assists, and 13 rebounds in a loss against the Dallas Mavericks, and Luka Doncic, a previous holder of the same record.
Josh Giddey is the first teenager ever with 3 straight triple-doubles.
17 PTS, 10 REB, 10 AST
28 PTS, 11 REB, 12 AST
11 PTS, 12 REB, 10 ASTTonight was his 4th triple-double, tying Luka Doncic for most by a teenager in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/P4pmq7Iji7
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 17, 2022
He has now also gone on to tie Luka Doncic for most triple-doubles as a teenager with 3 straight triple-doubles. And the high-flying rook is all set to make an appearance at All-Star weekend too. Teaming up with fellow draftmates, #1 pick Cade Cunningham and #4 pick Scottie Barnes, he is participating in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge.
Josh Giddey is only behind Evan Mobley in the race for Rookie of the Year, and most likely will finish there. Mobley’s side ranks much higher and is a genuine Conference contender.
But that takes nothing away from Giddey’s scintillating start to life in the NBA. He is also in the right team with a young core to take full advantage of another good draft pick and develop into a contender soon.
