A new kid on the block and a new record-setter in NBA Josh Giddey is making headlines for all reasons. Let us check on how good a player Josh is.
Oklahoma City Thunders are in deep trouble this season with their poor form and inconsistent performances. The team is 13th in the West and chances of making it into the playoffs are fading away for them. But one thing that will cheer the OKC fans is performances by Josh Giddey.
OKC was built around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when they decided to move from their franchise player Russell Westbrook. SGA provided good performances for the team but still, he was the lone performer for them. This draft allowed OKC a much-needed performer, Josh Giddey to share the load with Shai.
Josh Giddey is the 6th overall pick in the 2021 draft, as the 6’ 9” guard was drafted by OKC. Former MBL player, Giddey very recently has scored a triple-double against Dallas Mavericks and became the youngest player in NBA to do so. Let us go through Josh Giddey’s performances to check how good the player is.
Josh Giddey Oklahoma Career
Giddey couldn’t play in the summer league for the team due to an injury but was part of the opening game for the OKC. He managed team-high 10 rebounds in his very 1st regular-season game.
His performances at the offensive end start to flourish with each game, as he became the regular ball-handler with SGA. Even in absence of Shai, Josh carried to the extra role of primary facilitator and scorer for the team.
He currently leads the thunders’ team in rebounds (7.1) and assists (6.1) per game and averages around 11 points (3rd in the team) per game. These are very impressive stats for a rookie, considering the team he is playing with and the stronger teams he is playing against.
Josh Giddey among other rookies
Well, if we compare apple to apple (rookie to rookie) then Giddey’s performances will have extra glitters. Some of his stats are more so impressive for a pro player also.
Josh is the top assist maker among rookies
Giddey ranks 1st among rookies in the assist department and 20th overall in NBA. In the league dominated by so many experienced and powerful ball handlers, standing at 20th position is very impressive for a rookie.
Josh is in the top 10 rebounders among NBA guards.
Sure his 6’9” height and MBL experience do help him in this department but he ranks 7th in the rebounding among all guards. He also ranks 8th in scoring among all the rookies.
With the combination of rebounding and scoring efficiency, he became only the third player to score 100 points and grab 100 rebounds in his first 20 games only. The other two players are LaMelo Ball and LeBron James.
Even he already had 7 double-doubles before finally getting his 1st triple-double highlights his consistency. He has reached a max of 19 points in the game against Jazz while grabbing 12+ rebounds a couple of times.
He was awarded Western Rookie of the month for his performances in October and November. This itself is an accomplishment of its own.
One thing that he might need to work on is his long-range shooting and overall field goal percentage to make him an elite player for the future. His coaches and teammates already had praised his work ethic and hard work, so surely he can overcome that deficiency.
At the start of the season, his teammate Aleksej Pokusevski said “He’s going to be a great player for us this season and in the future. For him, this is just the beginning,” The indications are similar to Pokusevski’s prediction. We, as NBA fans, are glad to have more talent coming into the game.
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