Australia’s newest NBA star is holding out hope that he can link up with Ben Simmons in the future at international level.
Josh Giddey, who was taken with the sixth pick in this year’s NBA draft, will make his regular season debut for the Oklahoma City Thunder this week, after a promising pre-season.
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Speaking ahead of his much-anticipated debut, the 19-year-old said Simmons was someone he had admired for several years.
“Ben’s an All-Star. He’s young. He’s been a multiple All-Star, he’s a max contract player,” Giddey told Nine News in Oklahoma.
“I’ve looked up to him for a long time. I went to his basketball camps, like, four years ago.”
The 2020 NBL rookie of the year is going to be a key part of the Boomers’ future, and hopes the wantaway Philadelphia 76ers star will be along for the ride.
Simmons chose not to represent Australia the Tokyo Olympics this year.
“You know he’s a superstar and hopefully one day me and him can team up, you know, when it’s the Olympic Games or World Cup or something, in the Australian jersey,” Giddey said.
Simmons has had a tumultuous off-season, and he only returned to Philadelphia this week, bringing an end to his hold out from training camp which led to financial penalties.
The Australian completed his COVID protocols to return to the court but it’s unclear when he will play, with the season set to begin in less than a week.
Giddey, however, had a brilliant pre-season with the Thunder, shooting better than 50 per cent from the field and averaging 13.5 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game.
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The Thunder are still in a rebuilding phase, but Giddey is giving their fanbase reason to hope for the future.
“You know it’s good the expectations on us aren’t as high to win championships or to win games it’s more about developing our group,” he said.
“Come game night, you know, once the balls thrown up it’ll be just basketball from there.”
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