Josh Giddey went from being a core piece of the Thunder’s bright future to facing uncertainty with his position on the team after a disappointing 2023-24 season. Amidst off-court controversies and a playoff benching, Giddey has a lot to overcome this summer. He spoke about the challenges he faced this season and how he tried to get past them.
“You don’t feel like getting out of bed for a number of reasons. I’m lucky to have people around me who care and are there for me. Coming in every day and seeing my teammates, that helps. Being in the gym and working out, that helps. There’s a million things but they’re probably a few that help the most with staying on-track and drowning outside noise.”
Giddey was benched during the Thunder’s 4-2 series loss to the Dallas Mavericks, with coach Mark Daigneault going with Isaiah Joe over Giddey for Games 5 and 6. Giddey was frank about how he dealt with the benching after being a solidified starter for the entire season.
“We started the same way all year but when it comes to the Playoffs, it’s a chess match. Coaches make adjustments according to the other team, how you’re being guarded and schemed. That’s just part of the game. I took it on the chin and kept looking forward, tried to be the best teammate I could be off the bench and that’s how the series unfolded.”
The 21-year-old guard from Australia knows he has a lot of development to do over the summer, heading back home for the offseason and committing to hours in the gym to especially improve his shot.
“Shooting is the big one, that’s something I want to work on… There’s so much of my game I want to evolve and get better at. Living in the gym is the big thing, being in there, repetitions, staying locked in, and not getting distracted by things. I’m going to be back home in Melbourne, there’s a million things going on, but just living in the gym. I made a promise to myself to be in there as much as I can be… My trainers will be there and everything is set up perfectly.”
Giddey was considered one of the next great hybrid guards in the NBA who could be a triple-double machine with his size and playmaking ability. When it came to executing his skills on a winning franchise, Giddey faced inconsistencies every young player would. But his inability to sink outside shots was his and the Thunder’s biggest Kryptonite.
Giddey averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in the season, a number that plummeted to 6.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in the second-round loss to the Mavericks. The Mavs were not guarding Giddey at the perimeter and forced Giddey out of the rotation, averaging 12.5 minutes per game and being benched for the final two games.
The lack of versatility in Joe’s game further hurt the Thunder, as Giddey went 2-2 as a starter while the team lost both games without him. His +/- was -23 in a series where both teams ended with the exact same points scored over six games.
His performances proved he was a massive liability for the Thunder and one who needs to improve rapidly if he wants to remain a part of the Thunder’s core alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.
Josh Giddey Was Accused Of Dating A Minor This Season
Giddey’s stock is at an all-time low not purely because of his on-court play. The 21-year-old was allegedly in a relationship with a high school student, who was a minor. The story broke on social media earlier in the season and quickly went viral, prompting the NBA to launch an investigation into the matter.
The NBA’s investigation was quickly paused as a police investigation was quickly launched over the accusations. The police couldn’t get the full details of what transpired after the family of the girl refused to cooperate. It was confirmed in February 2024 that Giddey won’t be facing police charges, but the results of the NBA investigation are still pending after they relaunched their investigation.
Giddey was recently spotted outside the campus of Tulane University with a different girl, prompting onlooking fans to jeer and ask Giddey if the girl was of age. These jokes will follow Giddey for the rest of his career, but if Karl Malone’s career went without a hitch, the Thunder guard will likely not face consequences unless he has explicitly broken the law.
He’s spending his offseason back home in Australia which will help him avoid the intense media scrutiny that he has faced this season. He was publicly called out by fellow NBA players such as Patrick Beverley as well.
It’s hard to determine whether Giddet will face any problems going forward for his actions, but if he lives up to his on-court potential, fans and media will start overlooking these troubles to praise his play.
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