Josh Giddey, an Australian professional basketball player, plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association. The Thunder selected him as the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft. Previously, he played for the Adelaide 36ers of the NBL as a part of the league’s Next Stars program to develop NBA draft prospects.
Giddey attended Melbourne’s St Kevin’s College before joining the NBA Global Academy as one of Australia’s best basketball talents. Along with his full-time training at the AIS, he attended UC Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra.
Continue reading to know more about the Aussie athlete!
Comes from a Family of Athletes
Giddey, who was born on October 10, 2002, developed an interest in basketball thanks to his parents who are former professional basketball players. His father, Warrick, was a longtime basketball player for the Melbourne Tigers, and his mother, Kim, played for the Tigers in the Women’s National Basketball League.
Hannah, Giddey’s sister, is also a basketball player; she plays forward for the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles. In the APS Competition, Giddey competed for St. Kevin’s College in Melbourne, where his father was the head coach. To support him in the NBA, Warrick stepped down as a coach.
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A Brilliant Start to His Professional Career
Giddey made his NBA debut on 20 October in a game against the Utah Jazz. The Aussie star was named the NBA’s Western Conference Rookie of the Month for October and November, joining Cleveland’s Even Mobley in the East, for his outstanding start to his career.
It comes after Giddey averaged 10.4 points per game (ranked eighth among rookies), 7.2 rebounds (third), and 5.8 assists (first) in 29.4 minutes from 20 games (all starts).
Earlier this month, Giddey joined LeBron James and LaMelo Ball as the third youngster in NBA history to record at least 100 assists and 100 rebounds in his first 20 games. He was one of only 16 NBA players since 2001 to average at least nine points, six rebounds, and six assists through his first ten games.
The 19-year-old Giddey, whose projected salary is $5,988,000, has stepped into a pivotal position for the rebuilding Thunder this season, with the young club currently sitting at 6-15 after a seven-game losing streak.
The Youngest Player to Play for Australia’s Senior Team
Giddey competed in the 2019 FIBA Under-17 Oceania Championship in New Caledonia for Australia. After guiding his team to a gold medal, he was nominated to the All-Star Five with an average of 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and five assists per game. In an 85–56 victory over New Zealand in the final, he had 25 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and five steals.
During the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualification, Giddey made his debut for the Australian national basketball team on February 23, 2020. In 11 minutes, he recorded 11 points, six assists, and three rebounds to help Australia upset Hong Kong. He became the youngest Aussie player to play for the senior team since Ben Simmons in 2013.
The 6′ 8″ tall Giddey was one of the last players dropped from Australia’s Olympic basketball team for the 2020 Tokyo Games and was instead chosen as one of three emergency players.
Open to Dating Someone
The talented Giddey seems to be single, as of December 2021. To date, he hasn’t announced being in a relationship with anyone nor he has given any clue on social media about his possible love affair.
