Oklahoma City Thunder: The next great Aussie is Josh Giddey

The Oklahoma City Thunder have found another star in Josh Giddey. 

Josh Giddey is a special player that can do a bit of everything and is already showing tremendous poise for a rookie. With the ability to play at his own pace, make clever passes, and have a good enough handle to make him dangerous offensively. Giddey is developing into a player that the Thunder can get excited about. Giddey continues to show his ability to make the game look easy and may already be the Oklahoma City Thunder‘s second-best player to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Giddey’s tremendous court sense, passing ability, and creativity make him a tough player to anticipate. As he gets more comfortable with the NBA game and grows into his large frame, Giddey will be one of the best point-forwards in the game.

Coming from the NBL and playing for the Adelaide 36ers, Giddey showed what made him such an intriguing draft prospect with his all-around game that translates perfectly to the NBA where having versatile wings has become increasingly more valuable.

During his one season in the NBL, Giddey lead the league in assists at 7.5 per game and finished the season with three triple-doubles. His size and versatility make him a triple-double threat in every game and playing against grown men in the NBL as LaMelo Ball did could help both players win back-to-back ROY’s. Selected with the 6th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Giddey is proving why he is such a valuable asset in today’s game with his all-around skills that will continue to shine because of the spacing that playing in the NBA provides.

Giddey’s unique blend of skills make him the most interesting rookie in the draft class and a tough player to guard. Giddey is tall enough to shoot over shorter players and shifty enough to beat taller players off the dribble or make the right pass. With great court vision, a reliable jumper, the ability to run pick and roll at 6-foot-8 and have the handle to beat his defender off the dribble, Giddey provides the Thunder with another young prospect that they can build their future around.

Giddey is averaging 10.5 points, 6 rebounds, and 6.1 assists. Giddey can affect the game without scoring and gives OKC another shot creator to pair with Shai.

If not for some incredible shotmaking from Paul George, OKC would’ve beaten the Clippers in large part to Giddey’s play as he hit several clutch buckets down the stretch finishing with eight fourth-quarter points to put the Thunder up nine with 2:44 to play. Giddey can also play defense with 13 steals and six blocks through eight games.

At only 19, Giddey became the 2nd youngest player in NBA history behind LeBron James to amass 10 assists in a game. Giddey finished with 18 points, 10 assists, and two rebounds in a 123-115 comeback win over the Lakers.

The offense just runs more smoothly with Giddey on the floor because of his ability to find the open man and be a versatile point forward. Giddey certainly looks like the best Australian prospect since Ben Simmons and is only getting better. He’s also less of a headache than Simmons and is actually willing to shoot the outside jumper, with six 3-pointers made on the young season.