Josh Giddey has copped a brutal reception from rival fans in his debut for the Chicago Bulls, with the Australian star still reeling from last year’s off-court scandal.
The 22-year-old endured a tough start to his tenure with Chicago as his side lost 123-111 against the New Orleans Pelicans in their season opener on Thursday (AEDT).
Giddey finished with 14 points, five rebounds and three assists in his half-hour stint on the court, but the biggest talking point was the reaction from the crowd.
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Last year, Giddey was accused of having an improper relationship with an underage girl, but the Melbourne product never faced charges and was cleared by the NBA.
However, the drama was clearly still on the minds of Pelicans supporters, who booed Giddey relentlessly every time he touched the ball.
Speaking to reporters post-game, Giddey admitted the response caught him off guard.
“I’m surprised it’s still gone on the way it was tonight,” he said.
“It threw my teammates off, they’ll talk to me about it too.
“Obviously this one was pretty loud, every touch – I definitely heard them. It is what it is, I can’t do a lot about it … I’m used to it now.
“I’ve just got to continue to play and do what I can out there.”
New Orleans were without marquee man Zion Williamson for the clash, but Brandon Ingram stood up and helped the side secure a 12-point victory.
Giddey and the Bulls will be in action on Saturday (AEST) against the Milwaukee Bucks.