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The OKC Thunder selected Josh Giddey sixth overall in the 2021 NBA draft. The Australian-born player emerged from the NBA Global Academy and entered the league with plenty of potential.
Josh Giddey's professional career began a year prior to entering the NBA draft. At just 17 years old, he signed a contract with the Adelaide 36ers. In his lone season with the NBL team, the player showed tremendous upside, but struggled with his jump shot.
He became the youngest Australian in NBL history to post a triple-double and back-to-back triple-doubles. Despite not finishing the season with the 36ers, Giddey was named the NBL Rookie of the Year, as he averaged 10.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game.
While he flashed a very well-rounded game, he shot only 42.5% from the field, 29.3% from 3-point range, and 69.1% from the free-throw line. This led to plenty of questions about how he would fit into the modern NBA, where jump shooting has become imperative for guards.
In his first season with the Thunder, he averaged 12.5 points with 7.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game. However, his shooting splits were well below the league average as he shot just 41.9% from the field, including 26.3% from 3-point range, and 70.9% from the free-throw line.
He won the Western Conference Rookie of the Month award four straight times before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
Watch Josh Giddey's rookie season highlights below:
Josh Giddey's struggles with injuries
Despite solid play, Josh Giddey's early career has been marred by injuries. After signing his rookie contract with the OKC Thunder, he was injured in the first quarter of his debut in the NBA Summer League.
These problems persisted as the regular season kicked off. He played in just 52 games as a rookie, as injuries held him out of 28 contests over three separate stretches. He wound up sitting out the final 23 games as his season ended in late February due to a hip injury.
Additionally, an ankle injury has sidelined Giddey in three of the Thunder's first eight games of the 2022-23 season.
Despite winning the Western Conference Rookie of the Month award four straight times to begin his first season, he received no votes for Rookie of the Year. Furthermore, his extended absence prevented him from being named to the NBA's All-Rookie First Team.
