The OKC Thunder just wrapped up their first preseason game, we now have to wait until Sunday to see this team in action again. Last night represented our first look at the Thunder’s prized first-round pick who the organization selected with the sixth overall pick, Josh Giddey, and goodness was it fun.
After being criticized on draft night for the selection, I am sure Sam Presti is sipping his coffee with a wry smile this morning. While one game, especially the first preseason game of the year, by no means defines an entire career nor makes this a sure-fired great selection by the OKC Thunder GM, but you would rather see a good debut than a bad one.
It was fitting the NBL product went toe-to-toe with a fellow NBL player turned NBAer LaMelo Ball in his preseason debut. They both present the same skill set, had the same buzz words used for and against and for them in the predraft process, and hope to impact the game in the same way.
Relax LaMelo stans, Giddey by no means has passed Ball, and if he becomes the caliber of Melo that is a huge win for the Thunder. The point is not to compare them as one-to-one basketball players, but rather evaluate how Giddey can follow the path blazed by Ball.
OKC Thunder Josh Giddey can follow LaMelo Ball path
The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the midst of a rebuild. To reach their championship goals, they have to nail the sixth overall pick, or it could set the timeline back years. Sam Presti gambled, he went for Giddey over the likes of Jonathan Kuminga at six who spent the entire draft process projected within the top five.
Giddey comes over from the NBL where he flashed elite passing, elite vision, great feel for the game, some nifty finishes around the rim, a great rebounding guard, a shaky three-point percentage, and a ton of room to grow. Sound familiar?
Ball shot 25-percent from the three-point line in the NBL, 37-percent from the floor averaging 17-points, seven rebounds, six assists, and a steal per game for the Illawarra Hawks. Giddey posted 10-points per game, seven rebounds, seven assists per contest for the Adelaide 36ers. He shot 30-percent from deep and 42-percent from the floor.
LaMelo Ball burst onto the NBA scene a year ago, after being selected third in the 2020 NBA Draft, Ball played in 51 of 72 games a year ago averaging 15-points, six rebounds, and six assists during his rookie campaign on his way to being tabbed Rookie of the Year and making first-team All-rookie.
Ball played in 28-minutes per contest and got the start in 31 of his 51 games played. That will be a similar story to Giddey who will likely start right out of the gate and could even get into the 30-minutes per game. Just the sheer usage alone will allow Giddey to compile enough counting stats to be named an All-Rookie player. While Rookie of the Year is a bit lofting for Giddey who will compete with the likes of Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Jalen Suggs, and Scottie Barnes, this can still be a successful rookie campaign.
The most encouraging stat line from Ball a year ago was seeing his 3-point shot leap to a league average 35-percent from deep. Ball takes deeper and more difficult shots than Giddey will, which could be the difference in their percentages. The encouraging part is maybe the spacing the NBA provides can allow Giddey to be a league-average shooter from deep.
Adding that to his game, with his natural scoring ability at the rim, and elite playmaking will take his game to the next level. While it is only one game, you can see the improvement from beyond the arc as Giddey goes 2-for-4 from beyond the arc.
LaMelo Ball started year two is a bang, pouring in 15-points, dishing out five assists, hauling in six rebounds, and collecting a pair of steals on the defensive end. Giddey, in eight more minutes, posted 18-points, seven rebounds, three assists, and shot 50-percent from deep while going for 66-percent from the floor in his OKC Thunder debut.