Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey didn’t produce his best offensive game on Tuesday but the rookie made up for it across the board in a loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Giddey finished with seven points on 3-of-9 shooting from the field, but also registered nine rebounds, four assists, one steal and one blocked shot in the 106-98 loss. He also turned in a few impressive defensive possessions in the contest, as well.
The sixth overall pick has proven to be a great rebounder to open the season.
Giddey has hauled in at least eight boards in three of four games, with a career-high 10 coming in the season opener on Oct. 20. Thunder teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander explained why Giddey has been so effective as a rebounder.
His size, obviously, is huge for a point guard and then he has a good nose for the ball. The kid is smart. He knows if you shoot a 3, it’s probably going to be a long rebound. Like I said, he has a good nose for the ball. He has played the game and you can tell.
Of course, Giddey played last season with the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League and was a strong rebounder. He produced four triple-doubles throughout the season and even became the youngest Australian to accomplish that feat.
He has often been compared to Ben Simmons at this stage of his career given his ability to score and rebound while also getting his teammates involved. Certainly, the future is bright for Giddey as he projects to have a productive season in OKC.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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