In the win over Spurs last night, Thunder player Josh Giddey became at 20 years and 78 days the second youngest all-time player, behind LeBron James, to compile totals of 1,000 points, 500 career rebounds and 500 assists. A great accomplishment for the sophomore.
When he arrived in the Great League during the 2021 Draft, the former Adelaide 36ers (Australia) player was praised for his versatility, his ability to be influential in several areas of the game. In this first half of his season sophomore, it is clear that the Australian meets expectations at this level, since to be preceded only by LeBron James in this kind of ranking is absolutely nothing dishonorable. Especially since the native of Melbourne is still ahead of a certain Luka Doncic, yet author of a sensational arrival in the NBA and also renowned for his versatility.
Via @ThunderPR: Josh Giddey is the second youngest player (20 years and 78 days) to reach 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, behind only LeBron James (19 years and 326 days old.)
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) December 28, 2022
However, this accomplishment should be weighed against several factors. Josh Giddey was born in October 2002, made his NBA debut at 19 years and 10 days. For comparison, Doncic, at the same age, was still playing at Real Madrid and was months away from being drafted.
On the scale of the history of the Great League, Giddey particularly benefits from this entry into the NBA at the age of 19, most of the references of the all-around game such as Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd or Oscar Robertson having made their debuts among the pros at 20 years old, even 21 or 22 years old. Even closer to us, players like Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook had two years of college before debuting in the League at the age of 20.
Of course, there were the days of high school students who skipped the NCAA box to come directly to the NBA (Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant…), but most of them – with the notable exception of LeBron James – paid initially their lack of experience in such an environment. Giddey, on the other hand, was not in his professional debut when he arrived in the Great League, since he had already been able to confront the NBL, the championship of his native country reputed to be very formative for young players.
If the performance of Josh Giddey is therefore to be put into perspective, it nevertheless remains to be noted. It may not announce a future NBA star, but it does confirm real talent and an ability to be a versatile and solid contributor to the future of the Thunder.
Source texte : Thunder
