Australia’s basketball sensation Josh Giddey burst into the limelight when he became the sixth overall pick in the 2021 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft after being selected by Oklahoma City Thunder.
Having begun his career with Australia’s Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League (NBL), he was the first Australian to be part of the league’s Next Stars program, which was set up to develop NBA draft prospects.
In April 2021, he became the youngest Australian to record a triple-double in NBL history.
A player achieves a triple-double in a basketball match when he manages double-digit stats (at least 10) in any three of these five major statistical categories – points, rebounds, steals, assists and blocks.
Three months later, he was drafted as the sixth overall pick by Oklahoma City Thunder but unfortunately, suffered an ankle injury five minutes into his NBA Summer League debut.
Giddey ended up making his NBA debut with Thunder in October and recorded four points, 10 rebounds and three assists but his team suffered a 107-86 loss against Utah Jazz.
He spent four years with Thunder before moving to six-time winners Chicago Bulls, the team where Michael Jordan achieved his legendary status, in a trade move in June 2024.
Giddey made his debut for the Australian national basketball team at the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualification tournament on February 23, 2020. He recorded 11 points, six assists, and three rebounds in 11 minutes in a 115-52 win over Hong Kong China.
At 17 years of age, he became the youngest player to play for the Boomers since Benjamin David Simmons in 2013.
Born on October 10, 2002, in Melbourne, Josh Giddey’s parents also played basketball. His father Warrick Giddey played for Melbourne United in the NBL while his mother Kim also played for the same team in the Women’s NBL.
At the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, he emerged as one of the brightest basketball prospects and in 2020, helped the NBA Global Academy win the Torneo Junior Ciutat de L’Hospitalet in Barcelona, where he was crowned Most Valuable Player.
Josh Giddey’s records and honours
On April 26, 2021, Giddey became the youngest Australian in NBL history to record a triple double after achieving 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against the New Zealand Breakers.
In the 36ers’ next match against Brisbane Bullets on May 1, he became the first ever Australian to record a triple-double in consecutive games, finishing with 15 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds.
He was also selected as the NBL Rookie of the Year in his debut season in 2020-21.
Just a week after making his NBA debut for Thunder in October 2021, Giddey achieved his first double-double with 18 points and 10 assists in a 123-115 victory over Los Angeles Lakers. He also became the second-youngest player to record 10 assists in a single NBA game after LeBron James.
On December 26, 2021, the Australian became the second player in NBA history after Norm Van Lier to achieve a scoreless double-double after recording 10 assists and 10 rebounds as Thunder beat New Orleans Pelicans 117-112.
Josh Giddey made history on January 2, 2022, when he became the youngest-ever player to record a triple-double in NBA history, breaking the record held by LaMelo Ball. Giddey clinched 17 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds in a 95-86 defeat to Dallas Mavericks.
Between October 2021 and February 2022, he was named the NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month multiple times.
On January 10, 2023, playing against Miami Heat, Giddey joined an exclusive club of players that includes Luka Doncic, Grant Hill and fellow Australian Ben Simmons as the only players in NBA history to achieve at least 1,000 points, 700 rebounds and 500 assists in their first 100 career games.
Giddey led Australia to the gold medal at the 2019 FIBA Under-17 Oceania Championship held in New Caledonia. He achieved 25 points, eight rebounds, six assists and five steals in the final as Australia defeated New Zealand 85-56 to win the title.
Having made his debut for the Australian senior national team in 2020, Giddey was an emergency player for the Boomers at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics but failed to make the final squad. He is expected to mark his Olympic debut at Paris 2024.
He took part in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and was recognised as the FIBA Basketball World Cup Rising Star with Australia finishing 10th in the tournament.
Josh Giddey achievements
- Youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double
- Youngest Australian to record a triple-double in NBL history
- NBL Rookie of the Year for 2021-22
- Second-youngest player after LeBron James to record at least 10 assists in an NBA game
- First rookie since Oscar Robertson in 1961 to record three consecutive triple-doubles in the NBA
- Second player in NBA history to record a scoreless double-double
- One of four players in NBA history to record at least 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, and 500 assists in their first 100 career games.
- Won the 2019 FIBA Under-17 Oceania Championship gold medal
- Named FIBA Basketball World Cup Rising Star at the 2023 FIBA World Cup