Australian teenager Josh Giddey has already broken a string of records in his debut season in the NBA, and now he’s revealed the moment when he knew he’d arrived on the big stage.
Fresh off a career-best 24 points in Oklahoma’s 113-103 loss to Sacramento, where he also recorded eight assists and four rebounds, Giddey spoke to Nine’s Today about his stunning debut season.
Selected by the Thunder with pick six in the 2021 draft, Giddey has set a franchise record for the most double-doubles by a rookie.
LIVE UPDATES: Aussie lauded for ‘absolutely stunning’ gold medal
READ MORE: Chinese censors intervene after Olympic fiasco
READ MORE: IOC president’s Peng Shuai revelation raises fresh questions
READ MORE: Legend’s warning for stars in wake of Langer drama
He’s also the youngest player since the legendary Lebron James to reach 500 points, 200 rebounds and 200 assists in his first 45 NBA games.
“It’s surreal at the start, because when you step on the floor with guys you’ve looked up to your whole life, it’s a really special moment,” he said.
“It was hard for me the first time, I wanted to go up and introduce myself to those guys, but you realise you’re playing against them.
“It’s the reality you’re living in. It’s a lifelong dream of mine to be here. To step on the floor with some of the guys who’ve been role models for me over my whole basketball journey is really special.”
Giddey revealed a run-in with Bucks’ superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo was when the reality of his move hit him.
“My second pre-season game, we were in Milwaukee, I had to switch onto Giannis, and he put his shoulder through my chest,” he noted.
“I couldn’t breathe for the next five minutes.
“That was probably my ‘Welcome to the NBA’ moment and that’s when I realised it was really happening.”
The 19-year-old explained that the fact he’s now sharing a court with his childhood heroes still amazes him.
“You get on the floor and you’re playing against your idols, you have to turn from being a fan to being a competitor. It’s tough at times,” he said.
“The first time I played against LeBron, he’s someone I’ve looked up to my whole life, it’s like, ‘I’m really playing against him.’
“As the game goes on you forget about it.”
But Giddey was quick to shut down any suggestion of trash talking his idol.
“No! I would never say a word to someone like that! I’ve got to be quiet.”
And while the Australian finds himself being compared to some of the game’s best at the same stage of their careers, he isn’t getting ahead of himself.
“To be in the same sentence, the same statistical bracket as those guys is surreal,” he explained.
“I don’t compare myself to them, by any stretch, he’s probably the greatest player to ever pick up a basketball.
“But to be in the same conversation is really cool.”
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!