Australian NBA boom rookie Josh Giddey is continuing to garner plaudits after his latest brilliant showing for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Giddey put the NBA on notice yesterday, becoming the youngest player ever to record a triple-double.
The 19-year-old put up 17 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds in a 95-86 loss to the Dallas Mavericks – and while the Thunder aren’t going anywhere this year, they’ve certainly unearthed a key piece of their future in the Aussie point guard.
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Luka Doncic, who Giddey had previously said he modelled his own game on, was on fire for the Mavericks at the other end, falling one rebound short of a triple-double of his own.
Giddey, for his part, was more concerned with losing the game than his own personal glory.
“It’s cool, as I said earlier in the year. The individual stats are good; you enjoy it for the night,” Giddey told reporters afterwards.
“But a win is always better than individual stats. If I have zero-zero-zero and we win, it’s always better than if I have a triple-double and lose.”
His performance garnered praise from opposition coach Jason Kidd, one of the greatest point guards ever in his own right.
“He’s unselfish. As a 19-year-old, he understands how to play the game,” Kidd said.
“He’s comfortable with the ball, his teammates all know that if he has it, they’re gonna cut, because there’s a chance that they can get it.
“He’s comfortable shooting the three. He has the total package.”
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