Tag: Josh Giddey

Joe Ingles had hilarious response to Josh Giddey’s mentor comments

Ingles offered a great reaction to Giddey saying he would stay up and watch him play last season in the NBL.

On Sunday, Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Josh Giddey offered some details about his friendship with Utah Jazz forward and fellow Australian Joe Ingles ahead of their matchup on Wednesday.

Giddey connected with Ingles a few years ago and the two would often talk as the Jazz veteran would offer some tips and pointers when necessary. He revealed that Ingles would stay up late to watch him play with the Adelaide 36ers last season in the National Basketball League.

Said Giddey:

He was one of the first guys to reach out to me when I first signed my contract in Adelaide. We’ve spoke a lot through the years. He was staying up until three in the morning to watch my games and giving me feedback to help me out.

However, that’s not quite how the story goes, at least, according to Ingles.

Ingles would watch Giddey play on occasion but clarified it wasn’t because he stayed up specifically to catch his games. Instead, the bulk of that came when the Jazz would be on late-night plane rides during the course of the season.

When asked on Tuesday about Giddey, Ingles hilariously stopped the reporter.

Is this that stupid question that he got the other day saying I stayed up all night or something? That was because I was on a plane. … I did watch him. He played for my hometown, which was nice. Just giving him an open line and vice versa. If I watched the game, because of that travel, not because I stayed up to watch him play, I would watch a lot of games and shoot him a text with some things and vice versa.

Like Giddey, Ingles played in the NBL, as well. He spent three seasons with the South Dragons, which are now a defunct team, prior to playing in Europe and before joining the Jazz in 2014. He would give tips to Giddey about the level of play in the NBL.

The two had the opportunity to spend time together this summer with Australia in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics. Giddey did not make the final 12-man roster but played with the Boomers in some exhibition games in Las Vegas before the team departed for Tokyo.

Ingles joked that Giddey would almost ask too many questions.

I don’t know how many times you give someone the opportunity to ask questions and they really take as much of it on as they can. He was almost to the point of being annoying with the questions but I, obviously, committed to trying to help him. With the national team, he didn’t make the final team, but to spend time with him … I knew he was going to be a hell of a player when he got over here and so far, so good. He has played well.

As fate would have it, Oklahoma City opens the regular season on the road Wednesday against Ingles and the Utah Jazz. The contest will have special meaning for Giddey as his first NBA game and his first matchup against Ingles.

The chance to play Igles will certainly be a fun moment for Giddey. Bragging rights will no doubt be on the line between the two players, so it will be worth watching to see how it all unfolds.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Thunder rookie Josh Giddey excited to face Joe Ingles in NBA debut

Giddey has leaned heavily on fellow Australian Joe Ingles and will soon have the opportunity to face his mentor on the court.

Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Josh Giddey has leaned heavily on fellow Australian Joe Ingles over the years and the sixth overall pick will soon have the opportunity to face his mentor on the court.

Giddey on Sunday revealed that Ingles would often check in with him while he played with the Adelaide 36ers last season in the National Basketball League. Ingles would even stay up late to watch Giddey play and give him feedback on how he performed.

The two had the opportunity to spend some time together this summer with Australia in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics. Giddey did not make the final 12-man roster but played with the Boomers in some exhibition games in Las Vegas before the team departed for Tokyo.

As fate would have it, Oklahoma City opens up the regular season on the road Wednesday versus Ingles and the Utah Jazz. The contest will have some special meaning for Giddey as his first NBA game, and first matchup against Ingles.

It’s going to be really cool. Joe has been someone I’ve looked up to for a lot of my junior career. He is, obviously, an Australian legend, has had a very good NBA career. He has been a big help for me over the last 18 months.

He was one of the first guys to reach out to me when I first signed my contract in Adelaide. We’ve spoke a lot through the years. He was staying up until three in the morning to watch my games and giving me feedback to help me out.

Giddey admitted that he is excited to get the season started and begin playing in games that count. The team knows it will have a tough challenge against the Jazz but the players have had a positive outlook after wrapping up the preseason.

The chance to play an idol in Igles will certainly be a fun moment for Giddey on Wednesday. Bragging rights will no doubt be on the line between the two players so it will be worth watching to see how it all unfolds.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Thunder credit Josh Giddey’s background for shaping him as a player

Giddey emerged as an exceptional talent in Australia at the age of 12, thanks in large part because of his basketball background.

Josh Giddey grew up in Australia in a household dominated by basketball, and the Oklahoma City Thunder believe that background has helped mold him into the player he is today.

To start, both of Giddey’s parents played professionally in Australia.

His father, Warrick, was a longtime member of the Melbourne Tigers in the National Basketball League while his mother, Kim, played with the Tigers in the Women’s National Basketball League. His sister, Hannah, even played at Oral Roberts University.

By the age of 12, Giddey emerged as an exceptional talent in Australia and eventually joined the NBA Academy in Canberra. He impressed at several basketball camps along the way and earned Rookie of the Year honors last year in the NBL.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault can see why Giddey has been so successful.

His intelligence, feel and instincts, I think it makes a lot of sense when you look at the way that he came up. He comes from a basketball family. He was around the game. There is great passion for basketball in Australia that he was exposed to from a very young age. There is great pride in the national team there that he has been involved with from a very young age. I think that certainly helps and I think that is a huge part of who he is as a player and as a person.

Giddey finished off the preseason on Thursday by nearly notching a triple-double, recording 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. He has emerged as one of the most exciting rookies this preseason, thanks in large part due to his passing and playmaking ability alone.

The sixth overall pick has often been compared to fellow Australian Ben Simmons, and some even believe he is better than him at this stage of his career. Certainly, the Thunder wouldn’t be upset if he lived up to that comparison.

Oklahoma City begins the regular season Wednesday vs. the Utah Jazz.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Three takeaways: Young Thunder players ice game vs. Nuggets starters

The Thunder had rookies on the court in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets had their starters. But OKC prevailed and won their first preseason game.

With the Thunder holding an eight-point lead with just under nine minutes left to play, Nuggets star Nikola Jokic checked back in the game and immediately assisted a 3-pointer. With an OKC court consisting of a rookie, three second-year players and one third-year player, Denver was in position to come back.

But Gabriel Deck answered with a 3-pointer of his own, and the Thunder lead would never again sink lower than five. Oklahoma City took the 108-99 win, its first victory of the preseason, with its young players icing the game against the Nuggets starters.

It was an impressive and surprising performance from the group of bench players, many of whom were on the Thunder team that struggled so much without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander last year.

“In the last two to three minutes, we were just trying to slow the game down,” said rookie Josh Giddey, according to Thunder reporter Nick Gallo. “For us young guys to close it out, it’s a good learning experience.”

Darius Bazley, who had a team-high 16 points in 27 minutes, was among the six Thunder players who reached double-digit points.

The offense was efficient, but perhaps the biggest reason of the win was the defense that had a massive turnaround since the loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Here are three takeaways from the win.

3 Thunder goals: Can Josh Giddey win Rookie of the Year?

Can Josh Giddey use his well-rounded game to push for Rookie of the Year this season?

Josh Giddey was selected higher than consensus in the 2021 NBA draft, but in his first preseason game, the Oklahoma City Thunder looked smart for picking the Australian guard/wing with the No. 6 pick.

After a year of tanking, there is pressure on Giddey’s shoulders to make sure that the losing of the 2020-21 season was not a waste. He will be out to show that not only does he have potential to blossom, but that he is one of the best rookies in the NBA.

Here are three goals that Giddey can take into the 2021-22 season as the Thunder enter the next phase of their rebuild.

Josh Giddey delivered a beautiful off-hand pass in Thunder debut

Giddey dazzled during his time on the court on Monday as the Thunder kicked off their preseason schedule.

Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Josh Giddey logged only five minutes during the Las Vegas Summer League, but the sixth overall pick made up for lost time on Monday during his preseason debut.

Giddey recorded 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes of work during a 113-97 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. He converted on 8-of-12 shot attempts from the field, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range, during his first extended action with the Thunder.

In typical fashion, Giddey dazzled during his time on the court.

He established himself as an excellent passer last year with the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League. As a result, he is viewed as perhaps the best passer in the draft this year, and had that ability on full display on Monday night.

Giddey entered summer league with plenty of hype until an ankle injury cut his run short just minutes into his debut game. However, those within the organization will likely have plenty to cheer about this season as he is back to dishing out dimes now that he is fully healthy.

Overall, he looked to be one of the more experienced players on the floor given his professional resume in the NBL. He figures to have a great shot at being in the Rookie of the Year race given that experience, and will likely even be one of the more entertaining first-year players.

The Thunder return to action on Sunday versus the Milwaukee Bucks.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Josh Giddey impresses in his Thunder preseason debut

Josh Giddey showed out with his off-hand passing and finishing in his preseason debut, a Thunder loss to the Hornets.

In failing to move up to the No. 1 spot in the draft lottery, the Oklahoma City Thunder were unable to draft the fun, exciting, 6-foot-8 player that every lottery team dreamed of selecting in 2021.

Instead, with the No. 6 pick, the Thunder drafted the fun, exciting, 6-foot-8 playmaker that … well, was not projected to go this high by most scouts and analysts.

But in Josh Giddey’s first preseason game, a 113-97 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, the Australian guard showed out. He had team-highs of 18 points and seven rebounds to go with three assists. Starting alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Darius Bazley and Isaiah Roby, Giddey’s 29 minutes were the most on the team.

His professional experience shined on some plays. This cross-court, left-handed pass isn’t one a normal rookie makes in his preseason debut:

The pass alone would be impressive, but look at him quick to sneak in as center Mason Plumlee failed to box him out. Plumlee is a 6-foot-11 veteran, but Giddey snagged the offensive board and finished the and-one through him.

In another play, Giddey did a good job slowing down over the screen, surveying the court, and making his move right as center Nick Richards started to slide away from the center of the court.

Richards got in the way of Miles Bridges, which gave Giddey the time to gain the advantage on Bridges.

He looked good and was efficient in the opener, going 8-for-12 from the field and making two of the four 3-pointers he attempted. He had two turnovers in the game.

Other rookie performances

Mann did not shine the way Giddey did on Monday night. The No. 18 pick in the draft had eight points on 1-for-7 shooting and three turnovers over 20 minutes of play, but there were two areas in which Mann stood out.

His six free throws were the most on the team. The only others who attempted more than two were Gilgeous-Alexander and Ty Jerome, both of whom attempted three.

Mann had three steals as well, a nice positive for the 6-foot-3 Florida product.

His one made field goal was this nifty finish:

No. 32 overall pick Jeremiah Robinson-Earl was the first player to be subbed in for the Thunder, replacing Roby at center. In 15 minutes of play, the former Villanova big had two steals, two rebounds and four fouls without scoring.

No. 55 overall pick Aaron Wiggins entered the game in the fourth quarter and burst out for 12 points in just seven minutes of play. He went 4-for-5 from the field and made all three 3-pointers he attempted.

Josh Giddey injury update: Thunder rookie fine after summer league ankle sprain

Sam Presti provided an injury update on Thunder rookie Josh Giddey, who suffered an ankle injury during summer league.

The excitement for Josh Giddey’s summer league debut lasted all of five minutes. The No. 6 pick in the NBA draft sprained his ankle in the opening minutes of the first game and missed the remainder.

During media day on the first day of training camp on Friday, Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti said that Giddey is doing fine now.

“The worst thing in those situations in summer league when someone gets nicked up like that is you just don’t have enough time to get them back before summer league is over,” Presti said.

Giddey was the first of the Thunder’s four draft picks in July. He was forced to miss summer league, which is often a nice marker for rookies to begin before jumping into preseason and regular-season games, but Presti is confident that Giddey will be ready because of his experience in the NBL last year.

“If we’re looking at a silver lining, he played in a men’s league the whole year,” Presti said. “The competition he was playing against is equal or probably better than the summer league, quite frankly.”

The team now has time in training camp and the preseason to get to learn Giddey.

“We’re going to learn as much in six days of practice as we would in summer league (by) just being around the guys, getting into a routine, building relationships and getting a sense of how things are done,” Presti said.

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Thunder rookie Josh Giddey ready for training camp after ankle injury

Thunder executive vice president Sam Presti said Giddey is doing fine after suffering an ankle injury in summer league.

Oklahoma City Thunder executive vice president Sam Presti on Friday said rookie Josh Giddey is ready to participate in training camp after suffering an ankle injury during the Las Vegas Summer League.

Giddey was injured just five minutes into his debut game with the Thunder and would not return to play in Las Vegas. The team opted to be cautious with the injury and did not want to rush him back into action, a decision Presti expounded on during his press conference.

He is fine. It was an ankle sprain. The worst thing in those situations in summer league is when someone gets nicked up like that is you just don’t have enough time to get them back before summer league is over. If you could even get him back, by the end of summer league, the games deteriorate pretty quickly. He is doing good.

The sixth overall pick entered summer league with plenty of hype after a strong season in the National Basketball League. His early injury was certainly a blow to the team and fans alike but the organization knew it wasn’t too concerning that he didn’t play.

The opportunity to have Giddey available for the start of training camp is something the Thunder are excited about. He will take the court with his new teammates and begin the transition with the start of the season just around the corner.

The Thunder, as Presti said, will know a lot more about Giddey soon enough.

We’re going to learn as much in six days of practice as we would in summer league (by) just being around the guys, getting into a routine, building relationships and getting a sense of how things are done. The one advantage I think Josh has, if we’re looking at a silver lining, is he played in a men’s league the whole year. The competition he was playing against is equal or probably better than the summer league, quite frankly.

Oklahoma City hasn’t had a player drafted as high as Giddey since James Harden (No. 3) in 2009 but the Thunder are not putting any pressure on him. They view his prior professional experience as a huge plus and know that he will have enough pressure on himself.

The team may not have seen much of him last month in Las Vegas but that will soon change with the start of the season looming. They will certainly be hoping Giddey can help the team continue its upward trajectory.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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ESPN predicts Thunder will finish tied for last place in Western Conference

Houston Rockets or Oklahoma City Thunder? Which team will finish with a worse record? ESPN’s panel couldn’t come to a consensus.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are not a popular pick for success this season. ESPN’s panel of experts isn’t exactly debating how good they’ll be; the question was more about how bad.

The group of reporters predicted how the Western Conference teams will fare this season. Oklahoma City finished in a tie for last place with the Houston Rockets.

“The Rockets and Thunder, two former titans of the conference, taking severe and abrupt falls — strategically, mind you — to set themselves up for long-term success,” wrote Royce Young, the ESPN reporter who is moving into the Thunder front office.

ESPN predicted a final record of 22-60 for both teams.

Last season, Houston finished with the worst record in the NBA. Though the team did not end up with the No. 1 pick, it did get several intriguing rookies, most notably No. 2 pick Jalen Green.

The Rockets also ended up with Alperen Sengun, acquired in a draft-day trade with none other than the Thunder.

Oklahoma City’s offseason was not nearly as exciting. Houston did not drop to No. 5 in the draft lottery, meaning the Rockets did not have to convey their pick to OKC. Then, the Thunder themselves dropped to the No. 6 pick.

They found themselves drafting four rookies, led by Josh Giddey with their top pick.

Giddey will take the court alongside Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is OKC’s one hope of not finishing as the worst team in the conference.

“The Rockets will be a League Pass darling with rookie Jalen Green, and the Thunder continue to be a compelling rebuild to watch with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — newly christened with a max deal — and intriguing No. 6 pick Josh Giddey.”