Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Josh Giddey on Sunday surpassed LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets to become the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double.
Giddey, at 19 years and 84 days, finished with 17 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds in a 95-86 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. He shot 7-of-16 from the field, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, in 36 minutes after returning from a three-game absence in the health and safety protocol.
The sixth pick has flirted with a triple-double several times this season and finally accomplished the feat to pass Ball, who was 19 years and 140 days old when he took the distinction from Markelle Fultz.
Giddey wished the feat had come in a win for the Thunder.
As I said earlier in the year, the individual stats are good and you enjoy it for the night but a win is always better than individual stats for me. If I had zero (points), zero (rebounds) zero (assists) and we win, I’m all happy than if I have a triple-double and lose. It has always been that way for me, always will be. It’s a cool milestone.
Giddey has stuffed the stat sheet all season long for the Thunder. He has proven to be a strong leader on the court for the team and stepped up with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out of the lineup due to the health and safety protocol.
Thunder acting head coach Mike Wilks liked how Giddey competed.
Josh is a competitor. He just got lost in the competition and that is just a result of him competing tonight. His teammates did a good job of finishing the plays that he was able to create but he is a young player. He is continuing to grow, got a lot of room for improvement but it is just a result of his will, his focus to go out there and compete and make plays. He is developing into a complete player.
⛈️ 17 PTS, 13 REB, 14 AST, 4 STL ⛈️@joshgiddey becomes the the youngest player in NBA history to put up a triple-double! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/cYZewoJ6ZA
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2022
Giddey also made a bit of history recently after he recorded just the second-ever double-double with no points when he had 10 rebounds and 10 assists on Dec. 26. The feat hadn’t been accomplished since 1971 as Giddey led the Thunder to a win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
He joined Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons as the only two rookies to register a triple-double this season and is now tied for the lead in double-doubles. Giddey is seemingly a double-double threat on a nightly basis given his production and that should only continue as he develops.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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