As the season got underway, Rookie Wire made 10 predictions about the class of 2021 talent in the NBA.
Unsurprisingly, one of them was specifically about Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Josh Giddey, the No. 6 pick in the class.
Rookie Wire analyst Cody Taylor predicted that Giddey would record at least five triple-doubles this season. There’s precedent from the 6-foot-8 guard himself that this could be the case.
Giddey became the youngest Australian last year to record a triple-double in the National Basketball League, and he eventually finished with four.
Not only that, but he flirted with one during the preseason:
He nearly notched one during the preseason with the Thunder, finishing with 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists on Oct. 14.
Giddey recorded 10 rebounds in his rookie debut, but didn’t come close to tripling up with it, as he recorded four points and three assists in that contest. He had his first double-double and first double-digit-assist game on Wednesday against the Lakers when he had 18 points and 10 assists. He again wasn’t close to a triple-double, though, finishing with just a pair of boards.
But put that all together and it should come soon.
Given his ability to fill the stat sheet, Giddey appears poised to tally a few triple-doubles this season. Recording five such performances, as we boldly predict, would be tied for fifth-most in history by a rookie, along with Tom Gola and Alvan Adams; Oscar Robertson holds the record with 26.”
Heck, if Giddey can get to six, the only players with more would be the Big O, Ben Simmons (12), Luka Doncic (8) and Magic Johnson (7).